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Act like you’ve been there before.
Such a classic line from programs accustomed to winning, but no longer dominating the limelight. SEC powers Alabama and Auburn likely muttered that gripe watching this week’s coverage overload of the Magnolia State.
For once, college football’s ‘SEC bias’ isn’t centered on the state of Alabama, but instead its neighbor to the West.
We say, let them gloat — Ole Miss and Mississippi State are in fact maneuvering through uncharted waters as national championship contenders with comparable talent, position by position, to the perceived elites.
For the first time in history, the Rebels and Bulldogs are both ranked in the AP Top 5, tied in the No. 3 slot. One could say buzz is at an all-time high following the biggest weekend in Mississippi’s history.
Egg Bowl rivals, barely above .500 at this point last season, were victorious over a pair of previously unbeatens, highlighted by Ole Miss’ first-ever victory over a top-ranked team.
Playing as the hunted instead of the hunter is a new phenomenon for Hugh Freeze and Dan Mullen. Motivating players to perform with the same aggression against Kentucky and Arkansas is more challenging than lighting a fire in the locker room before a heavyweight bout against a fellow Top 5.
This is where consistency, more so than talent, comes into play.
Much of the momentum that’s been earned through six weeks goes up in smoke if these two don’t continue playing with the ‘why not us’ mentality. In the age of rapid overreaction to a single event, a loss to an also-ran would tarnish what Ole Miss and Mississippi State have acquired with multiple, program-altering wins over ranked teams.
Can the Rebels of Bulldogs handle the pressure of being the favorites?
Alabama and Auburn got to this point with consistency. Outside of the Tigers’ 3-9 anomaly in 2012, the state of Alabama’s produced four of the game’s last five national champions. Auburn finished a couple plays short of No. 5 in January against Florida State.
Coaching and recruiting obviously play leading roles (which could be a challenge for both Mississippi schools in the near future) in getting to the supreme level, but understanding where you’re at as a program and what it takes to win every Saturday does as well.
Accepting nothing less is what the Rebels and Bulldogs must continue to do to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt and prove this season’s no one-year wonder.