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But the significance of the next six games on the conference schedule isn't lost on Ole Miss second baseman Alex Yarbrough.
No. 16-ranked Ole Miss dropped a home series on opening weekend, then rallied to win a road series at Alabama and stands 3-3 in the SEC. On deck for the Rebels, 18-7, overall, is a home series with No. 1 Florida this weekend and a road trip to No. 10 Kentucky.
The Gators and Wildcats are the Eastern Division co-leaders, each at 5-1, and they're a combined 48-3 overall.
After the six-game swing, the SEC season will be near the mid-way point.
"We try not to look at any games being bigger than any other. We think playing Jackson State on a Tuesday night it's just as important to get a win and play well as it is to play well and beat Florida on a Friday night," Yarbrough said.
That being said. ...
"We always talk about how the SEC is made up of 30 battles, and that's the entire war. We're not looking at any of these games as bigger than any other normal SEC game, but it would be really nice if we could come out and play really well against two teams who have had a lot of success this year."
Florida was highly ranked when Ole Miss defeated the Gators twice in Oxford two years ago, but Florida won decisively against Ole Miss in sweeping the Rebels in Gainesville last year.
While Kentucky's rise has taken some by surprise, Florida's has not. The Gators lost to East rival South Carolina in the national championship game last year, and many of the same names are in place again for a lineup that looks like it's playing with the bats of old. Florida leads the SEC with 37 home runs, 13 more than its nearest competitor, Kentucky. Ole Miss is tied for third with Arkansas with 19 home runs.
Florida catch Mike Zunino, a junior, leads the SEC with nine home runs, and senior outfielder Preston Tucker adds eight, tied for second with the Rebels' Zach Kirksey.
Ole Miss pitchers have done a good job of keeping the ball in the park this season, their seven home runs allowed tied for second in the league.
The Ole Miss Saturday starter, R.J. Hively, gave up five earned runs over his first two starts but has allowed only one earned run in his last four starts, a span of 27 innings.
Hively got a no-decision in the Rebels' 3-2 loss at Alabama. He went eight innings with one run, unearned, four hits, no walks and eight strikeouts.
Pitching was a question mark for the Rebels as the season began, but they'll need it to show up big this weekend.
Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco says he's gotten "terrific" play from starters Bobby Wahl, Mike Mayers and Hively.
"They've pitched great and most of the time given us an opportunity to win," Bianco said. "Pitching was a bit of an unknown, with guys either new or in different roles, but they've been able to answer the bell."
parrish.alford@journalinc.com
Pitching rotation
Tonight, 6:30 p.m.
Ole Miss RHP Bobby Wahl (4-0, 2.36) vs. Florida RHP Hudson Randall (3-0, 3.41)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Ole Miss RHP R.J. Hively (3-1, 1.47) vs. Florida LHP Brian Johnson (4-0, 3.13)
Sunday, 12:30 p.m.
Ole Miss RHP Mike Mayers (2-2, 3.47) vs. Florida RHP Jonathon Crawford (2-1, 3.95)