There was no talk of bowls at Hugh Freeze’s weekly press conference Monday at Ole Miss. The only bowl game that matters is tonight’s Egg Bowl.

The annual rivalry game against Mississippi State is back in Oxford this year, and Ole Miss (5-6, 2-5 Southeastern Conference) hopes it can end a three-game losing streak in the series. A victory would also be the Rebels’ sixth of the year make them bowl-eligible in Freeze’s first season.

Freeze said his team understands that the Egg Bowl — and not just qualifying for a bowl — is the big deal.

“We want to beat them as bad as they want to beat us,” Freeze said. “I’m very excited and I can’t wait for Saturday. I try not to be anxious. I don’t think that’s a good emotion to have for an entire week. It’s very difficult to fight it. You just want to get the preparation done and feel like you give your kids a solid plan that gives them a chance to compete with a very good, talented football team.”