For the first time in program history, it’s safe to say Ole Miss is headed to the College Football Playoff. The Rebels were able to keep outside noise from cracking a strong foundation and capped off an inaugural 11-win regular season, defeating Mississippi State 38-19 in an Egg Bowl rife with storylines.
Celebration is customary for Ole Miss faithful, but the win could have been much sweeter with a postgame announcement from Lane Kiffin that he signed an extension to continue being his team’s coach going into next season. That did not happen. But what did unfold was a peculiar first half marred with miscues by both teams and a late second-quarter score by Ole Miss that catalyzed a strong Rebel run in the final 30 minutes of action.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss had a big day, completing 23 of 34 passes for 359 yards and 4 touchdowns. Chambliss finished the regular season leading the FBS with seven 300+ yard games. His top target was De’Zhaun Stribling with 66 yards and a pair of scores on 4 receptions.
In the ground game, Doak Walker Award finalist Kewan Lacy trotted for 143 yards and a touchdown on 27 rushes. As a team, Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1 SEC) did not have one negative offensive play throughout the entirety of the contest.
Though the red and blue atypically won by three scores, many boxes that a typical Egg Bowl would yield were checked: early sparring between both teams, enough jawing to ignite a brawl, and no love lost between two rivaling fanbases as evidenced by Mississippi State fans allegedly stealing Chambliss’ jersey prior to kickoff. Fortunately for the Rebel field general, there was an extra one to be worn
“When you get word that your jersey was stolen, that kind of tells you how big the rivalry is,” Chambliss said after calling the Bulldog fans accused of stealing his jersey disrespectful. “Now I have some light on this rivalry, and they stole my jersey. I’ll hate Mississippi State for the rest of my life now.”
As for the in-game fight, Mississippi State’s bench was cleared late in the 2nd quarter, while the bulk of Ole Miss players on the sidelines stayed put. The quarrel was seemingly ignited when Rebel right guard Patrick Kutas dove onto the ground to recover a ball that was presumably fumbled by Chambliss, striking a Bulldog defender in the process. Kiffin told the media that one of his messages to his team leading up to the rivalry matchup was not to engage in any sort of fighting or violence.
“We want to make SportsCenter for making good plays. We’re not trying to make SportsCenter for starting fights. That was disappointing earlier in the game, but I was really proud of our players. Their players all left their bench, including their AD, and our players stayed on their bench like they’re coached to do,” Kiffin said before later elaborating on a conversation he had with Mississippi State Athletics Director Zac Selmon during the first-half scuffle.
“I just said to Zac, ‘Man, this is what we talked about with the officials before the game. We train our guys not to have this. I know it’s [happened] in the past. Maybe I’m wrong, and maybe people don’t like that I don’t want our players fighting.”
Back to the game, Ole Miss may have won big, but Mississippi State (5-7, 1-7 SEC) had hope at times. Jeff Lebby had a wildcard up his sleeve in quarterback Kamario Taylor, who had logged meaningful minutes in spurts earlier in the season, but had never started — much less played a complete game. Traditional starter Blake Shapen neither participated in senior day activities nor took a single snap.
Taylor, a true freshman from Noxubee County, logged 351 total yards — 178 in the air and 173 on the ground — while rushing for 2 touchdowns and throwing a pick that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. The dual-threat field general’s biggest moment of the afternoon came on a 35-yard touchdown run on 3rd and 10 to respond to an early-4th quarter score by Ole Miss. Taylor shed, at minimum, a trio of prospective tacklers and raised all eyeballs in Davis Wade Stadium, in the process.
Defensively, Ole Miss struggled with Taylor at times, but held him and Jeff Lebby’s offense at bay for the bulk of the day. The Rebels kept speedy Bulldog wideout Brenen Thompson from reaching the end zone. The other member of Mississippi State’s talented receiving duo, Anthony Evans, went without a catch. Da’Shawn Womack and Will Echoles had 2 tackles for loss and a sack apiece. Princewill Umanmielen had the game’s lone interception.
Another uncharacteristic element of the game was the number of Rebel faithful in the stadium. Ole Miss fans, leading up to the consequential battle, made it their mission to show up in droves to support their squad. Kiffin, Lacy, Chambliss, and Ole Miss linebacker Kewan Lacy made note of how special it was to run out onto the field and witness a sea of powder blue in a visitor’s home venue.
Scoring summary
Ole Miss struck first blood on its opening drive. A 31-yard carry by Lacy helped the Rebels go up 7-0 with 13:12 on the 1st quarter clock. Mississippi State, on its scripted drive, punched back when Taylor crossed the goal line on a 22-yard rush. The Rebels rebutted with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Chambliss to Harrison Wallace III, putting the red and blue up 14-7.
Then, an uncharacteristic miss by Ole Miss placekicker Lucas Carneiro set the home Bulldogs up to come back. Mississippi State, however, whiffed on a couple of attempts to put points on the board, with an untimely deflection at the line of scrimmage turning into an interception for the visitors.
But Ole Miss had become inept offensively, and the 2nd quarter clock ticked without a score until Kyle Ferrie snapped a cold spell with a 40-yard kick to put Mississippi State within 4 points of its bitter foe. Then Chambliss responded in a very big way, closing out the half with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Stribling, giving Ole Miss a 21-10 halftime lead.
Both teams exchanged successful field goals to start the 3rd quarter, Ferrie’s from 36 yards out and Carneiro’s being a 43-yarder. The Ole Miss defense was the first to stop the scoring, forcing a punt that set up a lengthy offensive possession and a 23-yard touchdown pass to Stribling, building the Rebels’ advantage to 18 points early in the 4th quarter.
Taylor, unfazed, kept the game within reach on a heroic 35-yard run into the end zone. Mississippi State had regained confidence for about 50 seconds. That’s how long it took Ole Miss to score again. Rebel wideout Deuce Alexander secured a pass from Chambliss, shed a defender, and sprinted into the end zone for an 88-yard score. And from there, the clock would strike all zeroes, with the golden egg remaining with the Rebels.
“It’s just really cool … That was our third time emptying out their stadium. Watching Matt Corral do it in that game, then Jaxson Dart, and watching Trinidad carry that trophy … it just gives me so much joy to see them do something like this,” Kiffin said after the game.
“To watch these guys come together, they came from everywhere. I bet you on offense that we don’t have any players that play [who are] from the state of Mississippi … Think about that. They came from all over the place to come together to win and then bring joy to all the fans, who are from Mississippi, mostly I assume. It’s just a really cool story.”
What’s next for Lane Kiffin?
Kiffin is mulling a decision to stay put at Ole Miss or jump ship to LSU, with both programs reportedly offering enough money to make him one of college football’s highest-paid coaches. After the game, the Rebel frontman reiterated that he had not made up his mind, though he did confirm that folks will know his next move sometime on Saturday, though he did not specify when.
He further added that he was going to spend his Friday night watching his son, Knox, compete in the north half playoff matchup. Knox Kiffin is Oxford High School’s quarterback. The Chargers play Tupelo, and the winner will advance to the state championship.
“I’ve got to do some praying and figure this thing out. I don’t know today. I can give you that tomorrow. I live life about one day at a time … I’ve learned to live that way for about six years now,” Kiffin said. “Tonight, I’m going to go be a dad, and watch a more important game to me, and watch Knox play in the north division championship versus Tupelo.”
Kiffin became emotional in his postgame press conference, referring to the loss of his father, Monte, who played a monumental role in guiding the offensive mastermind through life’s decisions. Kiffin confirmed that two of the role models he now looks to in his father’s absence are Nick Saban and Pete Carroll — two former bosses and mentors along his many stops in the coaching industry.
Is an SEC Championship appearance possible?
Ole Miss could continue its historic season by making the program’s first-ever conference title appearance in the event that Texas defeats in-state foe Texas A&M on Friday and if Auburn takes down Alabama in Saturday’s Iron Bowl.
The Longhorns and Tigers both host their respective rivalry battles.
Will Kiffin coach in the college football playoff if he does not commit to Ole Miss?
There is a general sentiment that Ole Miss Athletics Director Keith Carter will not let Kiffin lead the charge in the College Football Playoff if he elects to pursue a job at LSU over his current offer from Ole Miss.
“That’s not my call. I wouldn’t know that,” Kiffin said when asked if he could envision himself not coaching in the upcoming postseason.
Kiffin’s move could determine where Ole Miss is seeded by the College Football Playoff Committee. Over the past two weeks, the Rebels have dropped two spots in the rankings, despite not losing a game during that timeframe. Some have contended that Ole Miss could miss out on hosting its first playoff contest if Kiffin is not on the sidelines.
A home playoff game for the Rebels is also projected to generate roughly $50 million for the city of Oxford, making it the largest sporting event in the state of Mississippi’s history if it comes to fruition.
Next up for Mississippi State
The Bulldogs’ season came to an end on Friday, but with a glimpse of enthusiasm in Kamario Taylor as the program’s quarterback of the future.