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Cassanova McKinzy won the scramble for the ball, and Auburn emerged from a playoff pileup to survive and advance.

McKinzy recovered a fumble in the end zone to preserve the No. 4 Tigers' 35-31 victory over No. 7 Mississippi on Saturday night in what amounted to the first College Football Playoff knockout game.

That roller-coaster play proved to be the decisive blow.

"This was a playoff game," said Auburn linebacker Kris Frost, who forced the last fumble. "But from here on in, every game is a playoff game. They just get bigger and bigger."

The Tigers (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference), who were No. 3 in the first playoff rankings, got a reprieve after Rebels receiver Laquon Treadwell lost the ball at the end of a tackle-breaking catch-and-run to the end zone with 1:30 left. It was ruled a touchdown, but the replay official determined he lost the ball before crossing the goal line.

McKinzy dived on it, deflating the Ole Miss crowd enjoying the school's best start since 1990. The Rebels (7-2, 4-2), who were No. 4 in the first playoff rankings, have lost two straight, and they also lost Treadwell to what coach Hugh Freeze said was a broken leg sustained on that play.

"It's just a really, really sickening way to lose," Freeze said.

McKinzy and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said they had little doubt what the replay would show.

"I knew it was a fumble, and I thought we got it," Malzahn said. "The coaches up in the press box told us we had it, so I knew we were going to get the ball."

Mississippi State survives

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College football: Auburn gets past Ole Miss