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Saturday, November 1, 2014 | 10:23 p.m. CDT; updated 10:51 p.m. CDT, Saturday, November 1, 2014

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

The Tigers (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference, No. 3 CFP) 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 minute, 30 seconds left. It was ruled a touchdown, but the replay official determined he lost the ball before crossing the goal line.

McKinzy dove on it, deflating the Ole Miss crowd enjoying the program's best start since 1990. The Rebels (7-2, 4-2, No. 4 CFP) have lost two straight.

"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."

Auburn milked a minute off the clock before Ole Miss got the ball back at its 49 with 26 seconds left and no timeouts. Bo Wallace, who had fumbled at Auburn's 6 on the previous drive, threw three straight incompletions before a final desperation play went nowhere.

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."

He and the Rebels' Hugh Freeze had both downplayed the significance of initial CFP rankings with big games to play. Malzahn stopped short of saying it felt like a playoff game.

"It felt like a big game," he said. "They're still one of the best teams in the country. I had people tell me it was an elimination game, but the bottom line, it was 3 versus 4. It's a really big win for us."

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No. 4 Auburn holds off No. 7 Mississippi for 35-31 win