Since Lane Kiffin took over as head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, his team has had an edge in the Egg Bowl rivalry against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Since Kiffin’s arrival in 2020, Ole Miss has achieved a 4-1 record against Mississippi State, along with several seasons of double-digit wins, which have positively impacted their recruiting efforts, particularly with local talent.
Despite losing a commitment from linebacker Tyler Lockhart in a surprising turn of events, the Rebels still succeeded in attracting some of Mississippi’s top recruits for the 2025 class, including the state’s top player, wide receiver Caleb Cunningham, according to 247Sports. “For the third year in a row, we’ve signed the No. 1 player in the state, which is significant,” Kiffin noted.
Regarding their success in recruiting within the state, Kiffin attributed it to several factors, saying, “We’ve consistently dominated the Egg Bowls during this time. The trajectories of our programs and Mississippi State’s are strikingly different, based on our respective records since we’ve been here.”
From 2020 onward, Ole Miss has a 43-18 record, making them the third-winningest program in the SEC during that period, while Mississippi State sits at 27-34, partially due to a difficult 2-10 record this season.
“I think recruits notice that, which impacts their decisions,” Kiffin explained. “More players are now choosing to stay in-state, whereas previously they felt they needed to go to schools like LSU, Alabama, or Auburn to have a better chance at winning. They’ve realized that they can achieve success right here.”
Nevertheless, Mississippi State did secure some crucial recruits this cycle, landing three of the top 12 prospects in Mississippi according to 247. Ole Miss captured five, while Auburn, LSU, and Florida State each signed one.
Kiffin praised his staff, stating, “Our recruiting coordinator Kelvin Bolden has strong local connections and has excelled in building relationships with in-state players and bringing them to campus.”
