Mississippi State defeats Ole Miss in Egg Bowl

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Will Rogers handed for 2 touchdowns and Mississippi State stopped a possible game-tying 2-point conversion with 1:25 remaining to protect a 24-22 Egg Bowl win over No. 20 Mississippi on Thursday night time.

Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4 SEC), which snapped a two-game shedding streak within the sequence, rallied from a 16-7 deficit within the second quarter with a 10-point outburst within the fourth quarter. Massimo Biscardi hit a go-ahead 34-yard discipline aim earlier than Rogers related on a 22-yard landing go to Rara Thomas to construct the 24-16 lead with 7:58 remaining.

Ole Miss (8-4, 4-4 SEC) answered when Jaxson Dart threw a 23-yard landing go to Dayton Wade with 1:25 left, capping a 99-yard drive and shutting inside 24-22.

After two Ole Miss timeouts to arrange the two-point attempt, Mississippi State defensive deal with Randy Charlton batted down a shuttle go from Dart to protect Mississippi State’s the benefit. J.P. Purvis recovered the guaranteeing onside kick to seal it, setting off a postgame celebration undimmed by regular rain.

Rogers completed 27 of 39 passing for 239 yards, together with changing 8 of 16 on third down. The Bulldogs restricted Ole Miss to season-lows offensively, 331 whole yards, together with 74 speeding.

The construct as much as the Egg Bowl was dominated by conflicting stories whether or not Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin will go away to grow to be head coach at Auburn, changing Bryan Harsin, who was fired in October.

Kiffin met privately along with his staff Wednesday confirming his plans to stay. Nevertheless, WCBI-TV of Columbus, Mississippi, reported Kiffin can be introduced because the Auburn head coach as quickly as Friday. Kiffin denied the report on social media Wednesday.

GAME CHANGING SERIES

Trailing 16-7 with 1:55 remaining within the first half, Mississippi State responded with a 12-play, 75-yard landing drive, capped by a 19-yard go from Rogers to Lideatrick Griffin, with 8 seconds remaining.

Rogers was 8 of 10 passing for 66 yards within the drive, changing twice on third-down conditions to drag the Bulldogs inside 16-14 at halftime, establishing 10 unanswered factors within the fourth quarter for a 24-16 lead that proved decisive.

THE TAKEAWAY

Mississippi State: This win checked off lots of packing containers, particularly for Mike Leach after consecutive losses in a spirited in-state rivalry.

Since 2020, the Bulldogs have gained seven video games in opposition to AP Prime-25 opponents, prolonged a double-digit streak of bowl appearances and persistently rank among the many nation’s most efficient passing offenses.

Mississippi State tends to fly below the nationwide radar, however within the final two seasons, the Bulldogs are a strong 15-10 general and 8-8 within the SEC.

Ole Miss: Simply over a month in the past, the Rebels had been 7-0, ranked No. 7 within the AP Ballot, talked about as a darkish horse within the CFP dialog and the pinnacle teaching standing of Lane Kiffin was unquestioned.

The Egg Bowl loss capped a disappointing 1-4 end. What occurred? Extra importantly, what occurs with Lane Kiffin?

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The loss for No. 20 Ole Miss jeopardizes a 29-week streak of holding a slot within the AP Ballot. The Rebels superior to No. 7 earlier than shedding 4 of the ultimate 5 video games.

Mississippi State obtained votes, however would want a substantial bump to go eight different related groups to interrupt into the AP Ballot.

UP NEXT

Mississippi State: Awaiting a bowl bid, marking 13 consecutive bowl appearances.

Ole Miss: Awaiting a bowl bid, marking 40 bowl appearances, the third consecutive below Kiffin.

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