Ole Miss has been knocked out of the ranks of the unbeaten in its 2024 SEC opener, suffering a 20-17 loss against Kentucky to start Saturday’s Week 5 slate.

Lane Kiffin’s team had made quick work of their first 4 opponents, outscoring them 220-22. And it looked as if the N0. 6 team in the country might breeze past the Wildcats as they opened up a 7-0 lead just over 2 minutes into the contest.

But their vaunted offense stalled out, punting on the remainder of their first-half possessions outside of the one that ended the half. Coming into the day, Ole Miss had punted just four times all season long.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats took a 10-7 lead, capping a 13-play drive with a touchdown with 27 seconds left in the second quarter. Ole Miss eventually pulled ahead 17-13, but Gavin Wimsatt’s fumble near the end zone was fallen upon by Josh Kattus with less than 2-and-a-half minutes remaining as the Wildcats went up 20-17.

Ole Miss had a chance to tie it, but a 48-yard field goal by Caden Davis ended the Rebels’ last-gasp drive as Kentucky pulled off a stunning upset.

Jaxson Dart looked almost unstoppable in his first 4 games, so an 18-of-27, 261-yard, 1-touchdown performance (plus 13 carries for just 22 yards) looks very pedestrian by his standards. The Heisman Trophy talk will cool considerably after this loss.

Meanwhile, the Rebels were just 1-of-10 on 3rd down.