This wasn't how it was supposed to go for the Ole Miss seniors.
This was a group that came in together as arguably the most decorated recruiting class in school history. They had won 27 games the past three years and led the Rebels to back-to-back New Year's Six bowl games. There was the expectation that they would once again be in the mix for the SEC West or even the College Football Playoff this season, but the only thing on the line in Saturday's Egg Bowl is bowl eligibility.
"By the people that are very close to the program and those of us who have worked with them, there's no doubt in our mind that the [seniors] have rejuvenated and made Ole Miss football relevant again," Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said.