Lane Kiffin and No. 6 Ole Miss (10-1, 6-1 SEC) are on the brink of securing a spot in the College Football Playoff, but the path to that goal is fraught with challenges. In week 14, they will face their in-state rival, Mississippi State, while also navigating the distractions surrounding Kiffin’s future in the annual Egg Bowl showdown.
The stakes are high for Ole Miss. A victory would not only solidify one of the best seasons in program history but also secure a CFP berth. A loss to the Bulldogs—who are vying for bowl eligibility at 5-6—could leave the Rebels out of playoff contention and potentially also leave them in a coaching search.
In its final regular-season predictions, ESPN’s SP+ forecasts that Ole Miss will overcome these distractions and secure an Egg Bowl victory, projecting a 37-22 victory against Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium.
This matchup marks the 122nd all-time meeting between these two programs and the 98th edition of the Egg Bowl. The Rebels currently lead the all-time series against the Bulldogs with a record of 66-49-6 on the field and hold a commanding lead in the Egg Bowl series at 60-30-5.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET from Starkville on Friday with live coverage on ABC.
Lee Ann joins the Saturday Down South team, bringing over fifteen years of experience covering the SEC as both a sports journalist and football scout. With her keen eye for talent, she has also flexes her skills as the Director of Recruiting for the Rebel Walk( Ole Miss) Herring, is a staff writer at USA Today Sports Wildcats Wire, where she dives into the thrilling world of Kentucky football and basketball. When fall rolls around, you can catch her on air as an analyst for the Wake up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1 FM—because who doesn't love a good game day chat? A proud Brown University alum, Lee Ann balances her time between the sidelines and press box with her passion for coaching her boys' youth lacrosse and savoring a fine glass of bourbon alongside a good cigar. So, whether she's dissecting plays or rallying the next generation of athletes, Lee Ann is your spirited insider ready to tackle all things SEC!
