No. 14 Ole Miss Escapes Egg Bowl With 26-22 Triumph Over Mississippi State

Oxford, Miss – In a thrilling Egg Bowl rivalry game, No. 14 Ole Miss held on to defeat Mississippi State 26-22 on Thursday night, securing a spot in the Sugar Bowl.

First Half Dominance

The Rebels took control early, jumping out to a 17-0 lead in the first half. Quarterback Jaxson Dart threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to tight end Michael Trigg and ran in a 16-yard score. Running back Zach Evans added a 1-yard touchdown run.

“We came out with a lot of energy, and the guys were really focused,” said Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. “We were able to execute our game plan and take an early lead.”

Mississippi State’s Comeback Attempt

Mississippi State fought back in the second half as quarterback Will Rogers connected with wide receiver Rufus Harvey for a 9-yard touchdown. After Ole Miss kicker Jonathan Cruz extended the Rebels’ lead to 20-7, the Bulldogs responded with a 2-yard touchdown run by running back Jo’quavious Marks.

“We knew we could come back in this game,” said Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach. “We just needed to execute better and play with more intensity.”

Thrilling Finish

With Ole Miss leading 23-22 in the fourth quarter, Cruz converted a 48-yard field goal to give the Rebels a 26-22 lead. Mississippi State had a chance to tie the game late, but Rogers’ pass was intercepted by Ole Miss safety AJ Finley.

“It was a great feeling to get that interception. I knew we needed to make a play to win the game,” said Finley.

Sugar Bowl Bound

With the victory, No. 14 Ole Miss improves to 10-2 on the season and secures a spot in the Sugar Bowl on December 31st. It will be the Rebels’ first Sugar Bowl appearance since 2015.

“This is a great accomplishment for our team and our program,” said Kiffin. “We’re excited to represent the SEC West in the Sugar Bowl.”

Bulldogs’ Disappointment

For Mississippi State, the loss ends their hopes of a bowl game. The Bulldogs finish the season with a 8-4 record and will look to bounce back next year.

“We’re disappointed we couldn’t get the win tonight, but we’re going to learn from this and come back stronger nächstes Jahr,” said Leach.