The season couldn’t have ended fast enough for Mississippi State and Ole Miss. It ended on a brighter note for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs beat the Rebels, 55-20, in the Egg Bowl to complete 5-7 years for both of Mississippi’s SEC schools.

Neither team could stop the other. Mississippi State did more stopping and more scoring behind a run game that looked more motivated to win the in-state rivalry than the home team. Ole Miss was without its best receiver as tight end Evan Engram missed the game after a late injury at Vanderbilt. The Rebels would have needed him to tackle, too. No one could tackle Nick Fitzgerald. The Bulldogs’ sophomore quarterback broke the school’s single-game rushing record with 258 yards.

What it means: Both teams finished disappointing seasons. However, Mississippi State can take pride in denying Ole Miss a bowl game for the first time in five seasons under Hugh Freeze. With Fitzgerald and Shea Patterson looking toward at least two more head-to-head Egg Bowls, there is a lot to look forward to in the storied rivalry.

What I liked: Mississippi State was bent on running the football. The Bulldogs committed to it and did so with season-high success. Their previous season-high in rushing yards was 365. Saturday’s 458 topped it and it came in chunks, 10 yards per run. Fitzgerald ran for 258 yards on 14 carries (18.4 yards per rush). Aeris Williams ran for 191 on 25, career-highs for both. The gaps were huge, and the duo hit them all. Fitzgerald had a 61-yard touchdown run on a 3rd-and-2. He also had a 70-yard run. That was the norm for a team dedicated to the run against a team that did nothing to prove it could stop them.

What I didn’t like: The defense on either side, really. Mississippi State tightened up in the second half and shut out the Rebels. But by the half, Ole Miss had 358 total yards (528 for the game), Mississippi State 317. For the mathematically challenged, that’s 675 combined yards before halftime. For perspective, Mississippi State rushed for 250 yards on 20 carries in the first half (Williams 134 yards, Fitzgerald 109). As bad as Ole Miss has been, only four teams rushed for more yards in complete games.

The teams came in ranked 13th and 14th in the SEC in total defense. Ole Miss defensive coordinator Dave Wommack announced his retirement prior to the game.

Who’s the man: Fitzgerald is the easy pick. But since Williams has been given his fair shake in a once-crowded backfield, he has run with it. Like he did in a huge win against Texas A&M, he did it in Oxford with 25 carries for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Key play: Ole Miss trailed 27-20 after taking the momentum into the half. Early in the third, the Rebels had a chance to pull within 3 points if Gary Wunderlich, one of the nation’s best kickers, would have been given the ball. Instead, Ole Miss went for a 4th-and-1 and lost a yard at the 18. On the opposite end, Fitzgerald threw a 38-yard touchdown to Fred Ross – on a 4th-and-3 no less.

What’s next: Maybe the end of a merciless season in Mississippi.