College football is weird. One week you’re scoring 50 points a game and looking like a lock for the playoffs, and the next, you’re stuck in a rock fight with a team that just wants to bleed the clock dry. That’s basically the story of Kentucky Wildcats football vs Ole Miss Rebels football in 2024.
Nobody really saw it coming. Ole Miss was ranked No. 6 in the country. Jaxson Dart was putting up video game numbers. Then, Mark Stoops brought his Wildcats into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and essentially turned the lights out on the Rebels' high-octane party.
The Day the Offense Died in Oxford
If you like points, the September 28, 2024, matchup was probably painful to watch. But if you love gritty, fundamental SEC football, it was a masterpiece. Kentucky dragged Ole Miss into the "muck," a term Stoops uses often, and they didn't let them out.
The Rebels entered that game averaging over 50 points. They left with 17.
How does a Lane Kiffin offense get held to 17 points at home? You lose the time of possession battle by almost 20 minutes. Kentucky held the ball for a staggering 39:43. It was ball control at its most frustrating. Every time Jaxson Dart looked like he was getting into a rhythm, the Kentucky defense—led by Octavious Oxendine—showed up. Oxendine had two sacks that day, and the Wildcats as a whole finished with four.
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One of the wilder stats from that game? Ole Miss was 1-of-10 on third downs. You can’t win in the SEC if you can’t move the chains on third down. Honestly, it's a miracle the game was even as close as it was.
Brock Vandagriff and the Fourth Down Prayer
Kentucky’s offense hasn’t exactly been a juggernaut lately. Brock Vandagriff, the Georgia transfer, has had his share of ups and downs. But when it mattered most in Oxford, he delivered the throw of his life.
It was 4th-and-7. Kentucky was at their own 20-yard line. Most coaches would punt there, play defense, and hope for a break. Not Stoops—not this time. He’d been crushed by the media two weeks earlier for being too conservative against Georgia in a one-point loss. This time, he went for the jugular.
Vandagriff launched a moonball to Barion Brown for 63 yards. It was a "hail mary" style play that actually worked. A few plays later, backup QB Gavin Wimsatt fumbled near the goal line, only for Kentucky tight end Josh Kattus to fall on it in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
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Talk about "fumble luck."
The 2025 Revenge Game
Fast forward to the following season, and the narrative flipped. On September 6, 2025, the Rebels traveled to Lexington for a little payback. They got it, winning 30-23, but it wasn't easy.
Freshman phenom Kewan Lacy was the difference-maker in the 2025 meeting, shredding the Kentucky defense for 138 yards and a score. It showed that while Kentucky can beat anyone when they control the clock, they struggle when they can't stop a dynamic run game.
Looking at the history of Kentucky Wildcats football vs Ole Miss Rebels football, the Rebels still hold a significant lead in the all-time series (30-15-1). However, the gap is closing in terms of competitiveness. Since 2017, these games have almost all been decided by one score:
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- 2017: Ole Miss 37, Kentucky 34
- 2020: Ole Miss 42, Kentucky 41 (OT)
- 2022: Ole Miss 22, Kentucky 19
- 2024: Kentucky 20, Ole Miss 17
- 2025: Ole Miss 30, Kentucky 23
What Most People Get Wrong About This Matchup
There’s a common misconception that Kentucky is just a "basketball school" that happens to play football. That’s an outdated take. Under Mark Stoops, Kentucky has become a developmental factory for NFL-caliber defensive linemen and linebackers.
When they play Ole Miss, it’s a clash of identities. You have the "Portal King" Lane Kiffin, who wants to play fast, spread the field, and outscore you. Then you have Stoops, who wants to shorten the game and make you earn every single yard.
The reason Kentucky gives Ole Miss so much trouble isn't talent—it's tempo. By keeping the Rebels' offense on the sidelines, Kentucky effectively "iced" Jaxson Dart in 2024. He was cold because he spent half the game sitting on a bench watching Kentucky run 4-yard dives.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're looking at future matchups between these two programs, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Third Down Percentage: Kentucky's defense is designed to bend but not break. If Ole Miss is converting 40% or more of their third downs, Kentucky is in trouble. If it's under 20%, the Wildcats will keep it within a touchdown.
- The "Stoops Factor": Stoops is 1-7 in the SEC recently, but he has a weird habit of playing up to the level of top-10 opponents. Never count Kentucky out as a double-digit underdog against a ranked Ole Miss team.
- Kicker Reliability: Both the 2022 and 2024 games came down to missed or made kicks. Caden Davis’s 48-yard miss in the final minute of the 2024 game is still a sore spot for Rebel fans. Check the kicking stats before you put money on this game.
- Transfer Portal Impact: Ole Miss relies heavily on veteran transfers. Kentucky focuses on defensive continuity. Early in the season (like the 2025 game), the more cohesive defense usually has the edge.
The rivalry might not have a fancy trophy or a catchy name like the "Egg Bowl," but for those who follow SEC football closely, Kentucky vs. Ole Miss has quietly become one of the most reliable "trap games" in the conference.
To keep track of how these two programs are recruiting for the 2027 cycle, you should monitor the 247Sports Composite rankings for defensive line prospects in the Kentucky region, as that’s where the Wildcats usually build the depth needed to slow down Kiffin's offenses.