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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football Practice Report: Week 14
11/27/2024 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. – No. 14 Ole Miss football and in-state rival Mississippi State will do battle on Black Friday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for their final game of the 2024 regular season, the annual Egg Bowl.
Head coach Lane Kiffin held his Monday press conference to recap the Florida game and look ahead at Mississippi State. Jordan Watkins, JJ Pegues, Trey Washington and Cayden Lee met with the media as well, which can be found below.
Classic Rivalry
There are many rivalries in college football where records can be thrown out the window, that always seem to be evenly matched no matter how each team has performed all season. The Iron Bowl, the Red River Rivalry, the Backyard Brawl, Michigan/Ohio State, Army/Navy and of course The Egg Bowl all make the short list.
"Short week, just a huge game," Kiffin said. "Obviously, a lot of history with this matchup that means a lot in this state and one that I wasn't very familiar with coming in five years ago and became very familiar with, especially as going around the state speaking with people. So, I spoke extensively to our players about that with so many of them, I think there's 48 players is what Tom Luke said, that weren't here or that are new. So that's a lot of guys to try to get to understand the magnitude of this and how records don't matter in this game and how much passion there is and how hard players play in this game."
Seven of the last eight Egg Bowls have been decided by 10 or fewer points, including each of the last five and all four in the Lane Kiffin era. From 2004-2014, the home team won all but two games. Since then, the road team has won six of the last nine. Like a box of chocolates, you just never know what you're going to get.
"We talked a lot about that last night. Part of why I had Tom Luke talk about how this game means so much and how you throw out that they've only won two games and haven't beat a power five team all year. Throw that out," Kiffin said. "This is the Egg Bowl and you've got to be ready to play."
Lebby Returns
Kiffin will matchup up against one of his former proteges, Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby. Lebby was Kiffin's first offensive coordinator in Oxford, leading the Rebel offense and quarterbacks in 2020 and 2021 before departing for the same position at his alma mater, Oklahoma.
"I have not spoken to him this year, I don't think. So, kind of is what it is. And, I think he said when he got the job, it's going to be a really fun Egg Bowl," Kiffin said. "He said this year, so he was really excited about it. So, I guess we're excited too."
Lebby is in his first campaign as the Bulldogs head coach, working to rebuild a program that, last year, snapped a string of 13 straight seasons with a bowl appearance. The former Rebel OC lauded the talent on the current roster in Oxford.
"I think our guys understand and when you watch the tape, I don't think there's any question about it. The most talented roster we will have played all season long," Lebby said. "It's on the tape, exactly what it is from a personnel standpoint."
Must-Win Game
Growing up in Oxford, JJ Pegues knows full-well the intensity of the Battle for the Golden Egg. Having started his career at Auburn, he's also had a taste of one of the sport's other great rivalries, the Iron Bowl, making him more than familiar with what the Rebels have to do to pull out the win.
"Must-win," Pegues said. "It's a great team over there. No matter what the record is, we both still want to go in and give it our all. We think we're the kings of the Sip, so we've got to prove it."
In addition to the Golden Egg Trophy and in-state bragging rights, there could be more at stake for the Rebels. Sitting at No. 14, Ole Miss still has an outside shot of sneaking into the College Football Playoff, depending on what happens elsewhere around the country. Regardless, they know they have to finish the job this week against the Bulldogs to have any shot at all.
"It's something that I see on Instagram but that's not the main focus," Pegues said. "We just come wanting to beat Mississippi State, our rival, and that's about it."
Stay Connected
Stay up to date with all the latest Ole Miss football news and content! Subscribe to The Sip, the official newsletter of Rebel football, and we'll drop the best Ole Miss football stories, videos and social media content to your inbox each week.
Update today to the all-new version of the Ole Miss Sports app, presented by Renasant Bank! The new app will serve as a dynamic hub for Rebel gameday content, including ticketing, parking, schedules, shopping for official Ole Miss merchandise and much more. Click here for more info or to download.
Head coach Lane Kiffin held his Monday press conference to recap the Florida game and look ahead at Mississippi State. Jordan Watkins, JJ Pegues, Trey Washington and Cayden Lee met with the media as well, which can be found below.
Classic Rivalry
There are many rivalries in college football where records can be thrown out the window, that always seem to be evenly matched no matter how each team has performed all season. The Iron Bowl, the Red River Rivalry, the Backyard Brawl, Michigan/Ohio State, Army/Navy and of course The Egg Bowl all make the short list.
"Short week, just a huge game," Kiffin said. "Obviously, a lot of history with this matchup that means a lot in this state and one that I wasn't very familiar with coming in five years ago and became very familiar with, especially as going around the state speaking with people. So, I spoke extensively to our players about that with so many of them, I think there's 48 players is what Tom Luke said, that weren't here or that are new. So that's a lot of guys to try to get to understand the magnitude of this and how records don't matter in this game and how much passion there is and how hard players play in this game."
Seven of the last eight Egg Bowls have been decided by 10 or fewer points, including each of the last five and all four in the Lane Kiffin era. From 2004-2014, the home team won all but two games. Since then, the road team has won six of the last nine. Like a box of chocolates, you just never know what you're going to get.
"We talked a lot about that last night. Part of why I had Tom Luke talk about how this game means so much and how you throw out that they've only won two games and haven't beat a power five team all year. Throw that out," Kiffin said. "This is the Egg Bowl and you've got to be ready to play."
Lebby Returns
Kiffin will matchup up against one of his former proteges, Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby. Lebby was Kiffin's first offensive coordinator in Oxford, leading the Rebel offense and quarterbacks in 2020 and 2021 before departing for the same position at his alma mater, Oklahoma.
"I have not spoken to him this year, I don't think. So, kind of is what it is. And, I think he said when he got the job, it's going to be a really fun Egg Bowl," Kiffin said. "He said this year, so he was really excited about it. So, I guess we're excited too."
Lebby is in his first campaign as the Bulldogs head coach, working to rebuild a program that, last year, snapped a string of 13 straight seasons with a bowl appearance. The former Rebel OC lauded the talent on the current roster in Oxford.
"I think our guys understand and when you watch the tape, I don't think there's any question about it. The most talented roster we will have played all season long," Lebby said. "It's on the tape, exactly what it is from a personnel standpoint."
Must-Win Game
Growing up in Oxford, JJ Pegues knows full-well the intensity of the Battle for the Golden Egg. Having started his career at Auburn, he's also had a taste of one of the sport's other great rivalries, the Iron Bowl, making him more than familiar with what the Rebels have to do to pull out the win.
"Must-win," Pegues said. "It's a great team over there. No matter what the record is, we both still want to go in and give it our all. We think we're the kings of the Sip, so we've got to prove it."
In addition to the Golden Egg Trophy and in-state bragging rights, there could be more at stake for the Rebels. Sitting at No. 14, Ole Miss still has an outside shot of sneaking into the College Football Playoff, depending on what happens elsewhere around the country. Regardless, they know they have to finish the job this week against the Bulldogs to have any shot at all.
"It's something that I see on Instagram but that's not the main focus," Pegues said. "We just come wanting to beat Mississippi State, our rival, and that's about it."
Stay Connected
Stay up to date with all the latest Ole Miss football news and content! Subscribe to The Sip, the official newsletter of Rebel football, and we'll drop the best Ole Miss football stories, videos and social media content to your inbox each week.
Update today to the all-new version of the Ole Miss Sports app, presented by Renasant Bank! The new app will serve as a dynamic hub for Rebel gameday content, including ticketing, parking, schedules, shopping for official Ole Miss merchandise and much more. Click here for more info or to download.
Players Mentioned
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