No. 15 Ole Miss beats Mississippi St. 26-14 to win Egg Bowl and keep slim CFP hope alive
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) passes while being pressured by Mississippi State linebacker Branden Jennings (44) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. Credit: AP/Rogelio V. Solis
OXFORD, Miss. — Ulysses Bentley rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown and No. 15 Mississippi defeated in-state rival Mississippi State 26-14 in the Egg Bowl, keeping its sllim College Football Playoff hope alive.
Jaxson Dart completed 14 of 24 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown for the Rebels (9-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference).
Dart became the Ole Miss career passing yardage leader with a 17-yard strike to Jordan Watkins in the second quarter. He entered the game 49 yards behind Eli Manning and finished the day with 10,213 career yards. Dart, who played at Southern Cal as a freshman, entered the game leading the FBS in total offense and passing efficiency.
The Rebels, who lost to Florida last week, will need some help in other weekend games in their bid to make the CFP. They struggled against the SEC's worst defense, trailing twice in the first half before Bentley broke loose for an 89-yard TD run that gave Ole Miss a 17-14 lead with less than nine minutes before halftime.
Mississippi didn't manage to get a two-score lead against the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8) until Dart passed 19 yards to tight end Caden Prieskorn with 9:56 to play.
Mississippi State, which entered the game as the SEC’s worst defense (461.8 yards per game), closed out its first winless SEC campaign since 2002. The Bulldogs have dropped 12 consecutive conference games since last October. Martin Van Buren completed 17 of 32 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown with an interception.
The Takeaway
The Bulldogs had three turnovers —- two interceptions by Van Buren and a muffed punt — but its defense limited Ole Miss to three points in the quick-turn situations.
Mississippi wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr. (3) reaches out to ward off Mississippi State defenders during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. Credit: AP/Rogelio V. Solis
The Rebels stopped State on four plays inside the 5 yard line late in the game to spoil Bulldogs’ comeback bid.
Poll implications
The Rebels could climb closer to the top 10 depending on the outcome of other rivalry games this weekend.
Up next
Mississippi State: The season is over.
Ole Miss: The Rebels are most likely headed to a bowl game — with a remote chance at a CFP bid.
