Razor-thin rivalry: The last four Kentucky-Ole Miss games decided by four plays

by: Drew Franklin09/02/25DrewFranklinKSR

kiffin-stoops — Sep 28, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin (left) and Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops (right) embrace after the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

As Kentucky gears up to face Ole Miss this Saturday, the Wildcats carry momentum from their thrilling 2024 upset of the Rebels in Oxford, snapping a three-game losing streak in the series. The Kentucky–Ole Miss rivalry has been full of close finishes lately, with each of the last four games decided by a field goal or less, including one overtime thriller in 2020. “That’s gotta be a record,” Lane Kiffin said on Monday.

From DK Metcalf to Barion Brown, these games have come down to memorable plays in the final moments. Let’s revisit four of those defining moments and set the stage for what could be another close contest ahead.

Barion Brown’s 4th-down catch in 2024

Last season, Kentucky pulled off a stunning 20-17 upset over Ole Miss in the SEC opener in Oxford, sending a crushing blow to the Rebels’ early playoff hopes. Ole Miss was ranked sixth when the Wildcats delivered the surprising loss as a 17-point road underdog.

How’d it happen? Trailing late in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats faced a do-or-die 4th-and-7 deep in their own territory. An uncharacteristic play call for Mark Stoops, he rolled the dice, giving quarterback Brock Vandagriff the green light to deliver the 4th-down strike to Barion Brown for a 63-yard gain. The conversion set up the game-winning touchdown two plays later.

Final: Kentucky 20, Ole Miss 17

Illegal motion penalty derailed the 2022 upset

Kentucky has nearly two wins in Oxford in the last three seasons. In 2022, the Wildcats faced a ranked Ole Miss team again in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Trailing 22-19 late in the fourth, Kentucky’s offense had two golden opportunities in the red zone. The first ended in a fumble by quarterback Will Levis on 3rd-and-2, squandering a chance to tie or take the lead. After the defense forced a three-and-out, Levis connected with Barion Brown (he really likes Oxford) for a 51-yard screen pass, setting up first-and-goal inside the Ole Miss 10. On the next play, Levis found Dane Key for what appeared to be the go-ahead touchdown. But an illegal motion penalty on Brown nullified the score, and Ole Miss strip-sacked Levis on the next play, sealing Kentucky’s 22-19 defeat. Had Key’s touchdown stood, Kentucky likely would have hung on to win, and the scene at The Library that night would’ve looked completely different.

Final: Ole Miss 22, Kentucky 19

Missed PAT in the 2020 overtime game

During that unusual COVID-19 season, Lane Kiffin’s first Ole Miss team went into Lexington and won in overtime. It was all Kentucky early in that game as the Wildcats led by 14 in the third quarter, only for Ole Miss to rally back with three straight second-half touchdowns. Kentucky would tie it up and force overtime with a late Chris Rodriguez touchdown.

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In overtime, Kentucky struck first with a 10-yard scramble by Terry Wilson. However, kicker Matt Ruffolo’s missed PAT left the score at 41-35. Ole Miss capitalized, scoring in four plays and nailing the extra point to win 42-41.

Oct 3, 2020; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Mississippi Rebels offensive lineman Bryce Ramsey (75) consoles Kentucky Wildcats guard Quinton Bohanna (95) after the game at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Final: Ole Miss 42, Kentucky 41

DK Metcalf’s game-winning grab in 2017

Before he became one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, DK Metcalf terrorized the Kentucky Wildcats as an Ole Miss Rebel in Lexington. The year was 2017, and the game was a back-and-forth affair that came down to the wire. Kentucky seemed to have the game in hand after Benny Snell’s touchdown run and Austin MacGinnis’ extra point gave the Wildcats a 34-30 lead with just two minutes remaining. Ole Miss, however, had DK Metcalf.

Following Snell’s score, Ole Miss orchestrated a 14-play, 71-yard drive, ending in a third-down fade to Metcalf in the left corner of the end zone. Metcalf made an acrobatic catch and kept his foot in bounds despite tight coverage from Kentucky’s Lonnie Johnson, who couldn’t have played Metcalf any better. The touchdown with five seconds left sealed a 37-34 victory for Ole Miss.

Final: Ole Miss 37, Kentucky 34

Looking ahead to Saturday

The Kentucky-Ole Miss rivalry has been full of drama lately, with the last four games decided by a combined 10 points. This year’s point spread is hovering around 10 points, but history suggests it could be closer. Hopefully, it is.