Egg Bowl injury updates: Mississippi State at Ole Miss Tuesday availability report revealed

Ahead of Friday’s Egg Bowl, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State released their latest injury updates. The first SEC availability report came out Tuesday night.

Mississippi State and Ole Miss will get the Black Friday slate of games underway as they renew their storied rivalry. The Rebels have won the last two games against the Bulldogs, including last year’s 26-14 victory at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

This year, Ole Miss has an opportunity to virtually seal a spot in the College Football Playoff with an Egg Bowl victory over Mississippi State. Here is the initial availability report for both teams, released Tuesday night.

Mississippi State

• CB Jett Jefferson – Out
• DL Will Whitson – Out
• OL Brennan Smith – Out
• OL Blake Steen – Out
• RB Davon Booth – Out (first half)
• DB Isaac Smith – Questionable

Ole Miss

• LB Raymond Collins – Out
• WR Caleb Cunningham – Questionable
• CB Antonio Kite – Questionable

There are plenty of storylines around this year’s Egg Bowl. The biggest, of course, is Lane Kiffin’s future in Oxford. His name has been front and center in the rumor mill, and On3’s Pete Nakos reported the sense is Kiffin “holds the keys” to the entire coaching carousel as the final week of the regular season begins. On3’s team of insiders reported LSU, Florida and Ole Miss are preparing lucrative offers as the rumors swirl.

During his regular press conference this week, Kiffin made it clear he wasn’t going to answer any questions about what lies ahead. He wanted to keep the focus on this week’s Egg Bowl and the opportunity to stay in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot.

“Very fair question,” Kiffin said. “But we’re not answering if it doesn’t have to do with the game, the team and the season.”

Following the Egg Bowl, Kiffin’s future will again be the biggest storyline in college football. Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter said last week a decision will come the day following the game after the two met, along with university chancellor Glenn Boyce, Nov. 21.

“Coach Kiffin and I have had many pointed and positive conversations regarding his future at Ole Miss, including meeting today with Chancellor Boyce. While we discuss next steps, we know we cannot lose sight of what is most important — our sixth-ranked team that is poised to finish the regular season in historic fashion,” Carter’s statement read.

“Despite the outside noise, Coach Kiffin is focused on preparing our team for the Egg Bowl, and together, we want to ensure that our players and coaches can concentrate fully on next Friday’s game. This team is on the cusp of an unprecedented season, and it’s imperative they feel the support of the Ole Miss family in the week ahead.”