After those tough, early losses against Florida State and Alabama, Ole Miss was still highly ranked, given the benefit of the doubt by national decision-makers. The Rebels were just the sixth team since 1978 to be ranked in the Coaches Poll or Associated Press Poll with a 3-3 or worse record.

Shut out in the second half of Saturday’s 38-21 loss at LSU, the Rebels were finally shut out of both polls, now at 3-4 on the season, a dismal and unexpected 1-3 in the SEC West.

In a season of high expectations, the Rebels are going the opposite direction. Here are a few numbers going in reverse.

This is the first time Ole Miss has had a losing record after seven games since 2011, the year before Hugh Freeze was hired. That season, Ole Miss was 2-5 after seven and finished 2-10, 0-8 in the conference. Typically under Freeze, the Rebels bounce back very well following a loss. It was only the second loss (7-2) after a defeat in the last three seasons.

The second-half shutout was the first time Ole Miss was held scoreless in a half since last season’s loss at Florida. The second half in Baton Rouge went much like we’ve seen this season after the break from the Rebels. Ole Miss was once up 10-0 on the Tigers. Tied at 21 at the half, Ole Miss had 221 yards and 13 first downs. In the second half, it had six first downs and 104 yards.

“It was a tough one. We weren’t finding ways to come out in the second half and put together all three facets of the game. There were breakdowns in all three,” Freeze said. “Obviously there were breakdowns defensively; we gave up some explosive plays and scores.”

LSU had 20 first downs to Ole Miss’ 19. The slight disparity came because Leonard Fournette at one point had rushed for 249 yards and 3 touchdowns on seven carries.

The Rebels gave up their fewest plays all season, 64. Only Wofford (66) was held in the 60s. LSU’s 311 rushing yards were the second-most Ole Miss allowed this season, 515 total yards also second-most. The 8.1 yards per play was by far the largest allowed.

“We’ve got to really, really look at ourselves hard, coaches and players, and figure out why we’re not putting together complete games,” Freeze said.

The bad news for Ole Miss is that it gets no easier with red-hot No. 15 Auburn coming to town. The Tigers, without Kerryon Johnson, has risen to the top of the SEC in rushing behind sophomore Kamryn Pettway. The next-closest to Auburn’s 303 yards per game is Alabama, and the Tide is some 35 yards off that mark.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss ranks dead last in rushing defense, allowing 226.9 yards per game. There’s no doubt that it will be a test of will for the Rebels, and on the other side of the ball as well.

Auburn is now ranked fourth in the SEC in total defense, another test with Ole Miss’ offense going backwards.

The Rebels have gone from oops to oh no. With a third straight loss against the Tigers, the Egg Bowl could be for a sixth win. That wasn’t the plan or anywhere close to it.