Mike Hilton: 'Everyone knows how important the Egg Bowl is'

Published Nov. 23, 2015 4:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

Leading up to the season finale, Ole Miss has had a very successful campaign. In fact, head coach Hugh Freeze is the first Rebel coach to beat LSU, Alabama and Auburn in the same season since 1998.

With one regular season game remaining on the schedule, Ole Miss still has an opportunity to capture the SEC West title, although they need to win and have Auburn upset the Tide in the Iron Bowl to win the division. With the Egg Bowl looming, don't expect the Rebels to get too caught up in their accomplishments to date.

Ole Miss senior defender Mike Hilton discussed the importance of the rivalry Monday.

“It means everything,” Hilton said. “Everyone knows how important the Egg Bowl is. They’re going to come in with a chip on their shoulder. We’re going to come in with a chip on our shoulder. It’s going to be a fight. We’ll see how it turns out.”

Both teams will enter the game with identical 8-3 records, although Mississippi State enters with an additional conference loss and has been eliminated from SEC West contention. Winning the game could likely secure a New Year's Day bowl, if not New Year's Six Bowl, for the victory.

The 2015 Egg Bowl will be held in Starkville. The home team has won the previous four matchups and Mississippi State is 12-2 in its last 14 at Davis Wade Stadium.