The Egg Bowl devolved into a mad scramble.
A wild play toward the end of the first half of Fridays' rivalry game between Ole Miss and Mississippi State ended in punches and flags as emotions got heated.
With the Rebels leading, 14-7, and 3:28 left in the second quarter, Bulldogs linebacker Malick Sylla got a piece of Trinidad Chambliss ' arm as the quarterback set to throw, resulting in what was believed to be a fumble recovered by Mississippi State — and that's when chaos took over.
Pushing and shoving led to Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright and Mississippi State linebacker Tyler Lockhart trading some blows, which caused the Bulldogs bench to empty onto the field.
Ole Miss players stayed on their side as flags began to fly.
Officials had plenty to unpack after order was restored.
They first determined Chambliss' arm was in throwing motion, meaning the play was ruled an incomplete pass.
Then came the personal fouls, with multiple players on both sides getting tagged.
Mississippi State Bulldogs and Mississippi Rebels players are separated after a fight in the first half at Davis Wade Stadium. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin talks with an official during the first half. Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The scene left Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin fuming as he headed into the locker room at the half.
"We just try to play clean football, we try to execute, play really good football," he said in a walk-off interview on ABC. "For a whole sideline to try to fight and leave including their athletic director, I've never seen anything like it. I'm just trying to remind them we're trying to play football here, we're not trying to start a fight so our university can get credit for fighting people."
Kiffin was not worried about his squad.
"We're good," he said. "Our guys stayed on the sideline like they're supposed to."
Before the game, he accused Mississippi State fans of breaking into the Rebels' locker room and stealing Chambliss' jersey.
The rivalry, formally known as the Battle for the Golden Egg — the trophy given to the winner, has had a long and physical history dating back to 1901.
This year's edition has high stakes for Ole Miss, which entered at 10-1 and at No. 7 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, with a potential postseason spot on the line.
Adding to the drama is the future of Kiffin, who has been in the midst of rumors in recent regarding his future at the school — with officials saying an update would come after the game .
