OXFORD, Miss. — Ulysses Bentley delivered an impressive performance for Ole Miss, amassing 136 rushing yards and scoring a touchdown as the No. 15 ranked Rebels triumphed over in-state rival Mississippi State with a score of 26-14 during the Egg Bowl. This victory keeps their slim hopes alive for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Jaxson Dart showcased his skills by completing 14 out of 24 passes for 143 yards along with a touchdown, marking a significant achievement for the Rebels (9-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference). In the second quarter, Dart made history by surpassing Eli Manning to become the all-time leader in career passing yards for Ole Miss with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Watkins. Entering this matchup, he needed just 49 yards to break the record and ultimately finished the contest with a total of 10,213 yards. Dart, who previously played at Southern Cal, came into the game as the leading player in the FBS for total offensive yards and passing efficiency.
Despite suffering a loss to Florida in the previous week, the Rebels need assistance from other games over the weekend to bolster their College Football Playoff aspirations. They faced challenges against the SEC’s bottom-ranked defense, trailing on two occasions in the first half before Bentley executed an extraordinary 89-yard touchdown run, which allowed Ole Miss to take a 17-14 lead with under nine minutes left in the first half.
Ole Miss struggled to create a two-score advantage against the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8) until Dart found tight end Caden Prieskorn for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 9:56 remaining in the game. Mississippi State, having the worst defensive record in the SEC, concluded its season without a win in conference play for the first time since 2002. The Bulldogs have now faced 12 consecutive losses in SEC games since last October. Quarterback Martin Van Buren completed 17 of 32 passes for 280 yards, contributing one touchdown along with an interception.
The Bulldogs experienced difficulties with turnovers, including two interceptions thrown by Van Buren and a mishandled punt. Nonetheless, their defense managed to restrict Ole Miss to just three points during quick-turn situations. The Rebels defended fiercely, stopping Mississippi State on four plays deep inside the 5-yard line late in the contest, thwarting their comeback attempts.
Looking at the implications of the game, the Rebels have an opportunity to enhance their ranking as they aim for a higher position within the top 10, depending on the outcomes of other rivalry matchups throughout the weekend. As for the upcoming prospects, Mississippi State’s season has concluded, while the Rebels are likely heading towards a bowl game, despite lingering hopes for a chance at the College Football Playoff.