TUSCALOOSA — Five turnovers were too much for No. 2 Alabama to overcome Saturday against No. 15 Mississippi in a SEC West showdown. Barely.

The Crimson Tide (2-1) fumbled two kickoff returns and quarterbacks Cooper Bateman and Jake Coker combined to throw three interceptions to help the Rebels (3-0) build a 19-point fourth quarter lead. Somehow, Alabama still had the ball twice in the final four minutes with a chance to win.

Instead, Ole Miss marched out of Tuscaloosa with a 43-37 victory and its second consecutive win over Alabama.

“Obviously when you have five turnovers in a game, it’s kind of hard to win. Especially when you didn’t get any,” said Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

The Rebels built a 43-24 lead with 11:45 left to play when quarterback Chad Kelly found receiver Cody Core wide open racing down the sidelines for a 73-yard touchdown. Kelly faked the option on the play and the Alabama defense bit on the fake, leaving Core with only open field around him.

Officials originally ruled that Kelly had stepped over the line of scrimmage on the play, but a review overturned the call and gave Ole Miss a big cushion to play with.

It almost wasn’t big enough.

Bateman got the surprise start and played well before being subbed out for Coker in the second quarter. Saban said both quarterbacks knew going in that they would play.

When they needed it most, Coker led the Crimson Tide on a 14 play, 75 yard drive that was capped by a 2-yard Derrick Henry touchdown run with 6:36 left to play.

The ensuing two-point attempt failed, but Alabama was back within 43-30.

With time running out, Alabama chose to attempt an onside kick and recovered it at the Mississippi 30. Seven plays later, Coker found Richard Mullaney for a 2-yard touchdown that pulled the Crimson Tide within 43-37.

With the crowd fired up —at least those who hadn’t already fled for the exits — Alabama’s defense held the Mississippi offense and forced a punt that was downed at the Crimson Tide 7-yard line with four minutes remaining.

After a 26-yard scramble on first down, Coker was intercepted on the drive’s second play by Tony Bridges at the Ole Miss 32-yard line.

Even then it wasn’t quite over.

The Crimson Tide defense held Mississippi on a fourth-and-1 at the Alabama 31 with 36 seconds left, giving Alabama another possession.

However, all four of Coker’s passes were incomplete and the Rebels held on to hand Alabama its first loss in a SEC opener since 1991, breaking the longest streak in conference history.

Alabama gave Mississippi enough breaks, but the Rebels caught a few too.

Leading 17-10 in the third quarter, Kelly stepped back to pass on a third-and-1 and was smothered by the Alabama defense.

He let the ball go at the last possible second and it was tipped into the air and right into the hands of the awaiting Quincy Adeboyejo, who raced 66 yards for a Rebels touchdown.

“In the second half, they had one fluke big play, but they also made a couple of other big plays that were a huge difference in the game,” Saban said. “Plus, the long pass that was reviewed was huge.”

All in all, Mississippi got 24 points off of Alabama turnovers. Meanwhile, the Rebels didn’t have a single fumble or interception.

Kelly finished 18-of-33 for 341 yards and three touchdowns for Mississippi. Coker went 21-of-44 for 201 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Bateman was 11-of-14 for 87 yards and an interception.

Alabama threw the ball 58 times while running backs Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake combined for only 34 carries.

Saban said the game situation forced the team to throw the ball more.

“From the middle of the third quarter on we were in two-minute [offense], so that’s what I attribute it to,” Saban said. “It was the circumstances of the game. It wasn’t the game plan. It was the only way we had a chance to get back in the game and win.”

Henry had 127 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Crimson Tide in the loss.

Alabama hosts Louisiana-Monroe next week while Mississippi hosts Vanderbilt.