Right now, Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia and Ole Miss are all vying for a spot in the championship game. However, for Ole Miss, the mission is very simple: win and pray.

For Ole Miss to go to the SEC Championship Game, Ole Miss must beat Mississippi State and then hope that Texas A&M and Alabama lose their respective games. If Ole Miss loses, then it’s a wrap on its season.

Ole Miss’ chances are really slim, to be honest

Texas A&M is unbeaten right now, with an 11-0 record, but also an SEC record of 7-0. Hence, believing the Aggies will lose is very hard. Not only that, but they face Texas, who is 5-2 in the conference and has plenty of doubts every time that a top-tier game happens.

Alabama has the tiebreakers on its side and also, the Crimson Tide faces a team that is 1-6 in the SEC. That is why Ole Miss’ chances are very slim. The Rebels will likely beat Mississippi State, but the results they need are very farfetched.

The CFB Playoffs are much better

Ole Miss’ chances to go to the CFB Playoffs are very good. In the end, there are two ways to make the College Football Playoffs. A team can either win the conference championship or be an at-large team. Technically, as of now, Ole Miss can make it on both ends.

Even if the Rebels miss the SEC Championship Game, according to Pro Football Network, Ole Miss has a 96.8% chance to earn an at-large bid, which would put them in the playoffs. Still, its focus must be beating Mississippi State to end its regular season.

The state of Mississippi is often referred to as The Hospitality State. But make no mistake, there won’t be any of that in Starkville when the Rebels walk into Davis Wade Stadium. Though in very different situations, this game is equally as pivotal for both schools.

Ole Miss will hope the historic trend prevails, while Mississippi State vie to shock the country with a statement, upset win on home soil. With Kiffin’s future up in the air, hoisting the Egg Bowl is paramount for the Rebels to keep the vibes at the current all-time high.

Ole Miss vs Miss. St: Head-to-head record

When the Rebels and Bulldogs clash at Davis Wade Stadium, it will be the 122nd showdown between Ole Miss and Mississippi State in college football. Needless to say, this won’t be either side’s first rodeo. The two schools have been competing for the Golden Egg for a while now. However, the program in Oxford has enjoyed much more success than their counterparts in Starkville.

As it stands, Ole Miss has prevailed 66 times in NCAA history. Mississippi State, on the other hand, has recorded 46 wins. The game ended in a stalemate six times. The remaining three games have been vacated—wiping away two wins for the Rebels and one for the Bulldogs.

• Ole Miss leads all-time record: 66W-46L-6D

Why is it called the Egg Bowl?

One might guess the rivalry’s name came directly from the trophy handed to the victors. However, that wasn’t always the case. The matchup wasn’t referred to as the Egg Bowl until 1979.

According to USA Today, Tom Patterson coined the name as a way to inject motivation into that year’s rivalry game, when neither school had secured bowl eligibility. In turn, both the Rebels and Bulldogs suddenly had something tangible to play for. Ole Miss won that edition—and the nickname stuck.

The history behind the Golden Egg

As if the shared history between Ole Miss and Mississippi State weren’t already full of wonderfully absurd moments, the origin of the trophy both programs now leave everything on the field for is no exception.

As reported by USA Today, the trophy didn’t exist until 1927. Before that, the victors celebrated by tearing down the goalposts. But in 1926, the home fans in Starkville seemed to take an oath to keep the uprights standing, fending off the surge of Rebels supporters with chairs.

That was the breaking point, and the Golden Egg was introduced the following season. Ever since, both schools have fought for the trophy with the same grit and passion they once used just to protect their goalposts.

What’s at stake in Week 14 of the 2025 NCAA season?

The Rebels enter the matchup as the No. 7 program in the nation. A win would all but secure their spot in the College Football Playoffs. Moreover, it could send Ole Miss through to the SEC Championship for the first time in school history. A loss wouldn’t necessarily knock Ole Miss out of playoff contention, but it could be a tough blow for Kiffin’s team to recover from.

As for the Bulldogs, their expectations are far lower than those of their hated foes in the Magnolia State. Mississippi State isn’t chasing a playoff berth or a spot in the SEC title game, but its season could get an extra life with a win in the finale. Beyond the sweet satisfaction of knocking their rivals off their horse in the Egg Bowl, the Bulldogs would notch their sixth win of the campaign—securing bowl eligibility in the 2025 NCAA season.

It was a tough scene. After scrambling for a first down to keep the Longhorns’ drive alive in overtime, Manning was tackled, landing head-first onto the ground. He was slow to get up, and was forced to exit the field to get examined by Texas’ medical staff. Now, Sarkisian and the Horns want to know why the SEC didn’t throw a flag on the play.

As reported by @HornSports on X (formerly Twitter), Sarkisian admitted the school has turned in the tape of Manning’s hit to the SEC for further review. The Longhorns head coach made it clear Texas isn’t looking for excuses, but instead wants to know the reasoning behind the officiating in the 2025 college football season.

Protecting the QB

One of Manning’s best traits is his ability to make plays with his legs. However, a scrambling quarterback is often a double-edged sword in college football. Sarkisian and the Longhorns paid that price, as Manning came down with an injury and is now uncertain to play for Texas on Saturday against Vanderbilt.

Watching Manning enter the NCAA’s concussion protocol may be the final wake-up call for Texas to take matters into its own hands and start protecting the sophomore quarterback better. Entering Week 9 of the 2025 college football season, Arch had taken a total of 60 hits through seven games per Essentially Sports.

During the 45-38 win over the Bulldogs, the Longhorns signal-caller suffered an additional five sacks, with one open-field tackle leading to signs of a concussion. If Sarkisian and his staff can look at those numbers and not recognize there’s a problem, then Texas is in for more trouble.

Watching any Longhorns game, Bevo is impossible to miss on the sidelines—but now there’s a giant elephant in the room drawing all the Eyes of Texas. At some point, Sarkisian and company must address it.

Trick or treat

With or without Manning, the Longhorns must prepare for a matchup that could make or break their season. When No. 20 Texas hosts No. 9 Vanderbilt on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET, the Horns’ fate will be on the line. A win would put them in prime position to compete for a berth in the SEC Championship and keep their playoff hopes alive. However, a loss to the Commodores could very well be all she wrote for Sarkisian’s program. Kickoff is set for 11:00 a.m. CT, so Texas better hope to get out of bed on the right foot after Halloween night.

It wasn’t always pretty, but Manning and the Longhorns walked out of Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville with a crucial SEC win. However, for Sarkisian there wasn’t any prettiness anywhere during the road victory. The head coach in Austin made that clear with a concise, yet firm message after Week 9 of the 2025 NCAA season.

“We can’t keep living like this. That’ll be addressed on Monday,” Sarkisian stated postgame, as reported by @InsideTexas on X (formerly Twitter).

Drama aside

While Sarkisian was very prudent with his postgame statement, he didn’t take anything away from the deserved celebration for the Longhorns in Starkville. Much can be done better by the Longhorns, but a win is a win, and in the SEC Texas will take them as they come.

“I think we got a mulligan because tonight was a culture win,” Sarkisian stated. “I said this to the team, I don’t know if I’ve ever been more proud of a group of guys. When they go up 17 in the fourth quarter, these guys literally didn’t blink.”

Make or break

A win is a win. That’s a fact. Still, in college football some wins weigh more than others. Sometimes, certain losses are better regarded than wins. Sarkisian and Texas will experience just that, as they gear up for a crucial SEC showdown after squeaking by Miss. State.

On November 1, the Longhorns will return to Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium to host one of the hottest programs in college football: the No. 9 Vanderbilt Commodores. The burnt orange will be put to the test as the Horns vie for their second ranked win of the 2025 NCAA season.

Last year, Texas won four ranked matchups (excluding the College Football Playoff). To match that mark, the Longhorns must win their next three ranked games—Vanderbilt, Georgia, and Texas A&M. Most importantly, Manning, Sarkisian, and Texas must win out to clinch a postseason berth and possibly a ticket to the SEC Championship.

[Watch Mississippi State vs Texas online for FREE in the US on Fubo]

Texas will put their perfect record on the line in this Week 5 matchup. The Longhorns, sitting at 4-0, have established themselves as a dominant force, earning the top spot in the rankings. Meanwhile, the Mississippi State enter the game as heavy underdogs, with a 1-3 record and a 37.5-point spread against them. Oddsmakers have set the over/under for this contest at 61.5.

In their most recent outing, Texas cruised to a commanding 51-3 victory over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, showcasing their offensive firepower. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, are coming off a 45-28 loss to the Florida Gators, continuing their early-season struggles. Mississippi State will need to overcome long odds to compete with a Texas squad firing on all cylinders.

When will the Mississippi State vs Texas match be played?

Mississippi State take on Texas this Saturday, September 28th, in a highly anticipated Week 5 matchup of the 2024 college football season. The game will kick off at 4:15 PM (ET).

Mississippi State vs Texas: Time by State in the USA

ET: 4:15 PM
CT: 3:15 PM
MT: 2:15 PM
PT: 1:15 PM

How to watch Mississippi State vs Texas in the USA

Catch the 2024 college football clash between Mississippi State and Texas live on Fubo, which offers a free trial. Alternatively, you can tune in to SEC Network.

The Bulldogs have a positive record with four wins and only one loss against LSU 16-31 on the road. After that loss to LSU they won two straight weeks against Bowling Green and conference rival Texas A&M 42-24.

The Razorbacks had two bad weeks during Week 4 and 5 as they lost to Texas A&M and big favorite Alabama. Before those two losses they had won three weeks in a row.

Mississippi State vs Arkansas: Date

Mississippi State and Arkansas play for a Week 6 game of the 2022 NCAA Division I College Football season today, October 8 at Davis Wade Stadium in Mississippi State. The Bulldogs can take advantage of the bad timing of the visitors to win this game.

Mississippi State vs Arkansas: Time by state in the US

ET: 12:00 PM
CT: 11:00 AM
MT: 10:00 AM
PT: 9:00 AM

TV Channel in the US to watch Mississippi State vs Arkansas at the 2022 NCAA College Football Week 6

This game for the Week 6 of 2022 NCAA Division I College Football season, Mississippi State and Arkansas at the Davis Wade Stadium in Mississippi State on Saturday, October 8, will be broadcast in the US by FuboTV (7-day free trial) and other options to watch this game in the US is SECN

The Bulldogs started the 2022 season well with two consecutive wins, one against Memphis and one against Arizona, but after that good start the team lost in Week 3 against LSU 16-31. The Bulldogs most recent result was a win over Bowling Green 45-14.

The Aggies have won the past two weeks against a pair of Top 25 AP Poll teams, a win against the Miami Hurricanes and another recently against the Arkansas Razorbacks. After this game, the Aggies will have to play a big favorite, Alabama, on the road.

Mississippi State vs Texas A&M: Date

Mississippi State and Texas A&M play for a Week 5 game of the 2022 NCAA Division I College Football season today, October 1 at Davis Wade Stadium in Mississippi State. The Bulldogs and Aggies have recent wins, but the visitors have a current winning streak.

Mississippi State vs Texas A&M: Time by state in the US

ET: 4:00 PM
CT: 3:00 PM
MT: 2:00 PM
PT: 1:00 PM

TV Channel in the US to watch Mississippi State vs Texas A&M at the 2022 NCAA College Football Week 5

This game for the Week 5 of 2022 NCAA Division I College Football season, Mississippi State and Texas A&M at the Davis Wade Stadium in Mississippi State on Saturday, October 1, will be broadcast in the US by FuboTV (7-day free trial) an other options to watch this game in the US is SECN