SEC Power Rankings: Alabama is SEC’s only elite team

Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) celebrates with the Egg Bowl trophy after the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

By the time the Ole Miss Rebels took the field for the Egg Bowl, they surely knew that Alabama had beaten Auburn, which meant the Rebels had no shot at winning the SEC West and playing in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta last week.

Some teams may have struggled to overcome such a disappointment and would have let it affect their play later. Instead, Ole Miss jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter against Mississippi State and cruised to a 38-27 victory to bring the Golden Egg trophy back to Oxford for the second straight season. It was the first win for the Rebels in Starkville since 2003.

Quarterback Chad Kelly led a balanced Ole Miss offensive attack that gained 243 rushing yards and 236 passing yards without turning the ball over. Kelly completed 21 of 30 pass attempts and connected with Damore’ea Stringfellow on two touchdown passes and added 73 rushing yards and a TD.

Running back Jaylen Walton led the Rebels with 93 rushing yards and Jordan Wilkins added 54 rushing yards and a touchdown as Ole Miss averaged 6.6 yards per carry against the rival Bulldogs.

On defense, Ole Miss allowed 402 total yards, but sacked quarterback Dak Prescott seven times and Tony Bridges intercepted a Dak Prescott pass in the first quarter and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to put the game out of reach early.

With a 9-3 record, including a 6-2 mark in SEC play, Ole Miss doesn’t have an official bowl game destination yet – but the Sugar Bowl is a strong possibility.

Next Game: Bowl Game TBD

Next: Alabama