Before the NCAA became Ole Miss’s biggest rival, that tag had different meanings in different circles.

Most, at least inside Mississippi’s lines, have a tough time arguing against the Rebels’ biggest rival being Mississippi State. But there is a train of thought among a faction of fans that LSU is a bigger rival.

The hype around each of those games every year is tough to top, but after the Rebels beat Alabama consecutive times in 2014 and 2015, the buildup to games against the perennial No. 1 team in the country took the cake.

Ole Miss had Alabama’s number for only two seasons, but that was two seasons more than any other team in the country could claim. Things have changed, though. The Rebels let go of Hugh Freeze, and gone with him is a lot of the momentum he built with top recruiting classes and big wins.

The momentum was gone. Allegations arrived, as did a bowl ban for this season. It has been tumultuous in Oxford, recruits not as plenty, expectations lessened, more punishments possible.

The Alabama game is bigger than ever. Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Ole Miss has a chance to make a statement it won’t get the chance to make at any other point this season.

Beat LSU and everyone is pumped. Beat Mississippi State and everyone brags for the next 12 months. Beat No. 1 Alabama and upset the apple cart of college football.

The most damage the Rebels could do to LSU or Mississippi State is push either of them out of a New Year’s Six game or, if either’s season tanked, keep it from a sixth win. Beat Alabama, and the Tide’s title chances are damaged.

Alabama went on to win the 2015 national championship and lost in the semis the season before. This year, an Ole Miss win would be vastly different. In 2014, Alabama was less than a touchdown favorite and it was a No. 3 vs. No. 11 matchup. In 2015, it was a top-15 matchup and Alabama was a touchdown favorite.

The line this season opened at four touchdowns. Alabama is coming off a 59-point drubbing of Vanderbilt. Ole Miss is coming off a lackluster loss at Cal.

That said, Ole Miss has nothing to lose, literally nothing at stake. Shea Patterson can play uninhibited air-raid football. The Rebels will not fear the Alabama defense, despite its No. 2-ranking in the SEC, allowing only 248 yards per game.

Ole Miss is averaging 496.7 yards per game, first in the SEC, 14 yards more than second-place Alabama. Patterson has thrown for 1,281 yards, with 11 touchdowns against four interceptions. He will be trying to become the third Ole Miss quarterback in four years to take down the Tide.

It won’t be easy. Alabama is first in the SEC in scoring – 41.3 points per game. Ole Miss is fourth with 36. Ole Miss leads the SEC in passing offense, fourth in the nation with 427 yards per game, and A. J. Brown is expected back in the lineup.

Alabama is only 12th in the league in passing, but first in rushing with more than 300 yards per game – Ole Miss is dead last again. That’s where it gets tricky for the Rebels. They may not fear the Alabama defense, but should be very wary of Alabama’s run game. Ole Miss is ninth in the SEC in total defense, allowing 369 yards per game, and 10th in rushing defense, allowing 184 yards per game.

The line doesn’t reflect a great matchup, and it could turn out to be a long night for the Rebels. But Alabama won’t face a better group of receivers, and Ole Miss won’t face a better run game or better defense.

That combined with the reckless abandon Ole Miss will be allowed to play with in Tuscaloosa on Saturday may be enough to at least take the points in a friendly wager. And if it can manage to score 45 and not allow 49 …

The Alabama game isn’t as big as the Egg Bowl. It doesn’t bring the craziness the LSU game brings. If Ole Miss had not beaten the Tide those two times, it wouldn’t mean as much this week as it does. But the Rebels have no Playoff to play for, no bowl to attend. A win Saturday would be the biggest of the season, no matter what happens in any other game the rest of the way.

Alabama is the Ole Miss’s biggest rival – at least for this season.