The winner won't be guaranteed a spot in the Playoff, but with each team already having one loss, the loser of Ole Miss - Auburn can kiss its Playoff dreams goodbye. As far as Playoff hopes go this game truly is do or die.
For that reason Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will be the center of the college football universe for a few more hours Saturday night (6 p.m., ESPN). It's a familiar place for the Rebels. All eyes have been locked on Ole Miss throughout the month of October, ever since that historic win over No. 1 Alabama. Even after the loss to LSU the Rebels have stayed in the national spotlight thanks to the CFB Playoff's No. 4 ranking and this Top 5 showdown with Auburn.
ESPN has advertised the game non-stop, leaving little room to debate that Ole Miss v. Auburn will be college football's main attraction this weekend.
After a month that included games against Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU, Ole Miss should feel at home in another high stakes SEC West showdown.
The attention the Rebels have received this season has been incredible.
Thanks to a 7-0 start and the SEC saturation of ESPN, the Ole Miss brand has probably grown exponentially. A win against Gus Malzahn's Tigers would keep the Rebels near the top, and heap more even attention Oxford's way.
Make no mistake, the winner of this contest will still have tough games ahead. The season will be far, far from over. Ole Miss plays at Arkansas and hosts Mississippi State while Georgia and Alabama await Auburn. Not easy games.
But the winner this Saturday night will keep its National Championship dreams alive one more week, and survival is what college football is all about.
Survive baby. Just Survive.