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OXFORD, Miss. - 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 Treadwell lost the ball before crossing the goal line.

McKinzy dove on it, deflating the Ole Miss crowd enjoying the team's best start since 1990.

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.

"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 coach Gus Malzahn and Ole Miss coach 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."

The Rebels (7-2, 4-2, No. 4 CFP) have now lost two straight. But they lost more than the game.

Treadwell fractured his left ankle at the end of his third-down catch, Freeze told reporters after the game. Treadwell was taken off the field on a cart after breaking two tackles and dragging Frost toward the end zone. He pounded his fist on the ground in pain while officials reviewed the play and fans chanted his name.

Link:
Ole Miss loses heartbreaker