Three moments that changed the course of history (Kentucky-Ole Miss history)

Kentucky lost its last three games to Ole Miss, all in close fashion. In fact, the last three Kentucky-Ole Miss meetings were decided by only seven points, including one game that needed overtime. The Wildcats had opportunities to win all three, but it’s the Rebels entering this week’s game on a 3-0 win streak in the series. As we wait for Kentucky’s next shot, let’s look back at three moments that changed the course of history (Kentucky-Ole Miss history).

DK Metcalf’s touchdown catch in 2017

In 2017, Kentucky and Ole Miss played a back-and-forth game in Lexington that came down to the final offensive play. Kentucky had Ole Miss against the ropes with two minutes to go after Benny Snell‘s go-ahead touchdown run and Austin MacGinnis‘ extra point put the Wildcats up by four, meaning Ole Miss needed a touchdown out of its two-minute drill.

The Rebels did just that, led by quarterback Jordan Ta’amu down the field for a 14-play, 71-yard scoring drive. Ta’amu completed six passes, the last of which was a fade to DK Metcalf in the left corner. Metcalf, now a star in the NFL, miraculously kept his foot inbounds as he hauled in the winning touchdown over Lonnie Johnson. Johnson played good defense, but DK Metcalf is DK Metcalf. Ole Miss escaped with a win thanks to the third-down TD grab with five seconds left.

Final: Ole Miss 37, Kentucky 34

Missed PAT in overtime in 2020

In 2020, Lane Kiffin‘s debut season at Ole Miss included a trip to Lexington, Kentucky, where his Rebels gave the Wildcats another heartbreaking loss on home soil. In another high-scoring game, Kentucky led by two touchdowns in the third quarter, only to lose the second-half lead and then the game in overtime.

Led by quarterback Matt Corral, Ole Miss scored three straight second-half touchdowns to go up by a touchdown in the fourth, followed by Chris Rodriguez‘s game-tying run with 2:04 on the clock. This time around, the Ole Miss two-minute drill ran into a three-and-out, sending the game into overtime.

Kentucky struck first in overtime with a 10-yard Terry Wilson touchdown scramble, going up 41-35 on the first possession in extra time. However, kicker Matt Ruffolo missed the PAT, leaving the door open for Ole Miss to win with a touchdown and an extra point. The Rebels did just that, scoring in five plays and drilling the PAT to win in Lexington.

Final: Ole Miss 42, Kentucky 41

2020 Honorable Mention: AJ Rose taunting and celebrating a 70-plus yard run toward the end zone early in the game, only to get chased down three yards shy of a touchdown. Rose then fumbled on the goal line, resulting in zero points. Kentucky was down by one touchdown.

Illegal motion penalty in 2022

In the last meeting, in 2022, Kentucky went down to Oxford, Mississippi, to play the 14th-ranked Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the first time in over a decade. And, again, the game came down to the wire and ended in heartbreak for the Wildcats.

Kentucky blew two fourth-quarter red zone chances in its 22-19 road loss. First, Will Levis fumbled in the red zone on 3rd-and-2 with under three minutes left, spoiling a good shot at a go-ahead touchdown or game-tying field goal.

After Kentucky’s defense got the ball back with a three-and-out, Levis hit Barion Brown on a screen for a 51-yard gain, setting Kentucky up with another try in the red zone inside the Ole Miss 10. On the next play, Levis found Dane Key on a fade to the back left of the end zone, potentially giving Ole Miss a taste of its own medicine from 2017. However, the touchdown reception was called back due to an illegal motion penalty on Brown, whose feet weren’t set before the snap.

Ole Miss strip-sacked Levis one play later, a second straight red zone turnover for Kentucky in the final minutes of a field goal game. If not for the flag, Key’s touchdown reception likely wins the game for the Wildcats.

Final: Ole Miss 22, Kentucky 19

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Kentucky-Ole Miss Series History

Date	Location	UK	MISS	WINNER
10/1/2022	Oxford, MS	19	22	Ole Miss
10/3/2020	Lexington, KY	41	42	Ole Miss
11/4/2017	Lexington, KY	34	37	Ole Miss
11/5/2011	Lexington, KY	30	13	Kentucky
10/2/2010	Oxford, MS	35	42	Ole Miss
9/16/2006	Lexington, KY	31	14	Kentucky
10/22/2005	Oxford, MS	7	13	Ole Miss
9/29/2001	Lexington, KY	31	42	Ole Miss
9/30/2000	Oxford, MS	17	35	Ole Miss
10/2/1993	Lexington, KY	21	0	Kentucky
10/3/1992	Oxford, MS	14	24	Ole Miss
10/5/1991	Lexington, KY	14	35	Ole Miss
10/6/1990	Oxford, MS	29	35	Ole Miss
10/10/1987	Lexington, KY	35	6	Kentucky
10/11/1986	Jackson, MS	13	33	Ole Miss
10/13/1979	Lexington, KY	14	3	Kentucky
10/14/1978	Oxford, MS	24	17	Kentucky
9/25/1971	Lexington, KY	20	34	Ole Miss
9/26/1970	Jackson, MS	17	20	Ole Miss
9/27/1969	Lexington, KY	10	9	Kentucky
9/28/1968	Jackson, MS	14	30	Ole Miss
9/30/1967	Lexington, KY	13	26	Ole Miss
9/24/1966	Jackson, MS	0	17	Ole Miss
9/25/1965	Lexington, KY	16	7	Kentucky
9/26/1964	Jackson, MS	27	21	Kentucky
9/28/1963	Lexington, KY	7	31	Ole Miss
9/29/1962	Jackson, MS	0	14	Ole Miss
9/30/1961	Lexington, KY	6	20	Ole Miss
9/24/1960	Memphis, TN	6	21	Ole Miss
9/26/1959	Lexington, KY	0	16	Ole Miss
9/27/1958	Memphis, TN	6	27	Ole Miss
9/28/1957	Lexington, KY	0	15	Ole Miss
9/29/1956	Memphis, TN	7	37	Ole Miss
9/24/1955	Lexington, KY	21	14	Kentucky
9/25/1954	Memphis, TN	9	28	Ole Miss
9/26/1953	Oxford, MS	6	22	Ole Miss
9/27/1952	Lexington, KY	13	13	Tie
9/29/1951	Oxford, MS	17	21	Ole Miss
9/30/1950	Lexington, KY	27	0	Kentucky
10/1/1949	Oxford, MS	47	0	Kentucky
10/2/1948	Lexington, KY	7	20	Ole Miss
9/20/1947	Oxford, MS	7	14	Ole Miss
9/21/1946	Lexington, KY	20	6	Kentucky
9/21/1945	Memphis, TN	7	21	Ole Miss
9/23/1944	Lexington, KY	27	7	Kentucky