OXFORD, Miss. -- Just like other teams before them, Mississippi plans to focus on stopping Shaun Alexander.

Maybe the No. 22 Rebels, who rank second nationally in rushing defense, can at least slow down the Alabama running back. That might be the only way to beat the rested and 11th-ranked Crimson Tide (4-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference).

In every game this season, Alexander has rushed for over 100 yards and has also scored 13 touchdowns -- 10 rushing and three receiving. In Alabama's only loss, he had a season-high 173 rushing yards and scored twice.

"Alexander continues to get better as the game goes on," Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe said. "He's good running the ball, he's good catching the ball. He is not easily tackled and not easily contained."

Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1) has allowed just 45 yards rushing per game. But the Rebels haven't faced any back as talented as Alexander.

"We have to buckle down and key on him," Ole Miss linebacker Al Rice said. "It will be their running game against our running defense just break it down and come to play."

Ole Miss hasn't beaten Alabama since 1988 in Tuscaloosa, a span of eight straight games. The Crimson Tide has dominated the series 37-7-2.

While Ole Miss will be trying to stop Alexander on Saturday, Alabama coach Mike DuBose will finally see how his team will handle success.

About a month ago, Louisiana Tech scored a touchdown in the final seconds to upset Alabama 29-28. After the loss, Alabama's athletics director resigned and a heavy cloud hung over DuBose's future for his admission that he lied earlier about an alleged affair with a department employee.

The Crimson Tide followed with victories over Arkansas and at Florida before an open date last weekend. The 40-39 overtime victory at Florida Field snapped the Gators' 30-game home winning streak and came after a second-chance extra point.

"I'm anxious to see if we've put the Florida game behind us," DuBose said. "Our football team and our staff have done a good job handling the adversity. Now how do you handle success?

"Our practice was good, but the true answer will come Saturday, just how focused, just how prepared we are to play for 60 minutes. We can't answer those questions on practice in its entirety. You have to play the game."

Ole Miss is off to its best start since 1990, but because of an overtime loss to Vanderbilt in its SEC opener on the same day Alabama lost to Louisiana Tech, the Rebels face almost a must-win situation for a chance to challenge for the SEC West title.

"I don't think this is the only game that will be definitive for us the rest of the season," Cutcliffe said. "Every game we play from here on out will be a big game. This game is obviously big because we already have a conference loss and they don't."

The Rebels, who finally get an open date next weekend, still have five SEC games left. They also have the advantage of still playing the only two SEC West teams that are undefeated in league play -- Alabama and 12th-ranked Mississippi State, which they play on Thanksgiving night in the regular season finale.