September 21, 2024; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats defensive again Maxwell Hairston (1) intercepts an Ohio Bobcats move within the third quarter at Kroger Area. It leads towards the top zone. Necessary Credit score: Jordan Prather-Imagn Photographs After 4 warm-up video games towards lackluster competitors earlier than the 2024 season begins, Mississippi State is now able to face the cruel realities of the Southeastern Convention.
The Rebels, ranked No. 6 within the newest AP Prime 25 ballot, start SEC play on Saturday at house towards Kentucky in Oxford, Mississippi.
Mississippi State (4-0) dropped one spot within the polls regardless of beating visiting Georgia Southern 52-13 final week, its fourth straight victory by at the least 34 factors. Tennessee, one in all 9 SEC colleges within the prime 25, moved as much as No. 5 with a 25-15 street win over Oklahoma, which entered the sport ranked No. 15.
Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart leads FBS quarterbacks with 388.5 passing yards per sport and is tied for fourth with 12 passing touchdowns. Ranked first within the nation in passing yards (common 670.8 yards) and passing yards (common 422.8 yards per sport).
The Wildcats (2-2, 0-2 SEC) are 0-3 towards Ole Miss underneath Twelfth-year coach Mark Stoops. Kentucky most not too long ago misplaced to Oxford two years in the past, 22-19, and earlier than that, the Wildcats misplaced 42-41 in additional time in 2020 and 37-34 in additional time in 2017 , each instances at house in Lexington.
Misplaced by seven factors in three video games.
“(Kentucky) held Georgia right down to the wire and ran for over 200 yards (final week towards Ohio State),” stated Rebels coach Lane Kiffin, who’s now 2-0. Wildcats. “They appear lots like an NFL protection from a measurement, protection and talent standpoint.
“That is why lots of people wrestle with them. (Their) video games appear to be NFL video games: It is arduous to run the yardage, it is arduous to run the ball.”
Kiffin in contrast his Rebels to a fishing journey, calling the crew an excellent boat with a skinny rod and the best bait for touring by means of SEC waters.
“They’ve an opportunity to be actually elite, and so they have an opportunity to be actually particular,” he added.
Mississippi State will face a crew nonetheless looking for itself by means of 4 house video games. Kentucky’s efficiency in two SEC video games has been inconsistent — falling brief within the first however standing tall within the second and almost stunning the school soccer world.
Between wins over Southern Mississippi and Ohio State in Weeks 1 and 4, respectively, the Wildcats performed a sloppy SEC opener towards South Carolina. Kentucky turned the ball over twice (as soon as in six picks), dedicated 11 penalties, had 5 sacks and 11 tackles, and misplaced 31-6.
Nonetheless, as a three-touchdown underdog at house, Kentucky misplaced 13-12 to the then-No. Georgia ranked first, with 4 area targets by Alex Raynor (two of which went over 50 yards), however misplaced a comeback by the Bulldogs after taking a 9-6 lead within the fourth quarter.
“We’re accepting the problem,” stated defensive again Maxwell Hairston, who was assigned the No. 6 spot within the Wildcats’ 41-6 win over Ohio State final week. “Mississippi’s offense is so explosive … we will watch movie and do what we now have to do.”
“I do know Mississippi State is healthier in numerous methods and that is due to Ryan,” Stoops stated. “I imply, they have been good, however I feel they’ve actually constructed a really particular crew. Group.
Kentucky huge receiver Dane Key had a stellar sport towards the Bobcats, catching seven passes for 145 yards because the Wildcats totaled 488 yards.
The Rebels lead 29-14-1 in sequence historical past.
–Scene-level media
