Ole Miss got punched in the gut yesterday, kissing all but goodbye to their playoff hopes with the loss to Florida. Staff, players, and fans are hurting, with the team looking like they were two favorable games away from the playoff.
As fans, we can not fault the players' effort this season; they have given it everything. Sure, Lane Kiffin and several players would like some plays back that didn't turn out how they wanted, but the true fans, although frustrated, will forgive. One thing the fans won't forgive is the players feeling sorry for themselves with an Egg Bowl to win.
Please keep the Egg Bowl in Oxford, Rebels
The playoffs may have slipped away, but the Egg Bowl win still makes the season good rather than horrific. It may feel that nothing is saving how we all feel, but when Mississippi State comes to town, a win will make us forget about the rest for at least a little while.
Lane Kiffin has won three of his four Egg Bowls as Ole Miss's head coach. The only loss came in 2022, and the mood before that game was similar to this one.
Ole Miss had just suffered back-to-back losses against Alabama and Arkansas, falling from No.11 to No.20 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. A 22-24 defeat to the Bulldogs in Oxford saw them crash out of the top 25 with an 8-4 record, then lost to Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl.
The end-of-season slump was met with groans, especially with the home loss against Mississippi State. Jaxson Dart, Jordan Watkins, and JJ Pegues were several players on that roster that are here today. Those experiences should shape them to be ready for Friday.
This dude doesn’t owe anybody an apology. He has given it his everything for 3 seasons. Dart is a all-timer. Let’s just go win the Egg Bowl. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/oXRdfCJulJ
— We Run the Sip (@OMRebelNation) November 24, 2024
Lane Kiffin and the team have faced adversity a few times this season and handled it well. Sitting at 2-9 and zero conference wins, this is Mississippi State's championship game. They have nothing to lose, so expect a different Bulldogs team than we have seen this season. They will lose this game if the team is still licking their wounds.
Beat "little brother," play the bowl game, and move on to the 2025 season with the new wave of talent that looks exciting.