With an important regular-season finale ending a short week, Mississippi has watched its dreams shift from national success to perhaps something it certainly did not want on Thanksgiving weekend:

Things aren't nearly so clear-cut now for the 15th-ranked Rebels (8-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) entering Friday's Egg Bowl against in-state rival Mississippi State (2-9, 0-7). A loss to Florida leaves Ole Miss ranked 14th and needing to win and hope for some Saturday surprises.

The Ole Miss Rebels and Mississippi State Bulldogs have met in some historic matchups, but this year, the two squads are on opposite ends of the spectrum. State has had a disappointing season in Jeff Lebby's first year at the helm as the Bulldogs are winless in SEC play and winless against Power Four opponents.