Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State: 10 things every fan needs to know about this rivalry

The College of Mississippi and Mississippi State College performed one another in soccer for the primary time in 1902. The sport —  referred to as the Egg Bowl — has been performed yearly since 1944, and most yearly from 1902 to 1942.

They’re form of neighbors, with the Rebels’ campus in Oxford and the Bulldogs’ campus in Starkville sitting roughly 100 miles aside. They’re as acquainted with one another as nearly any set of rivals in school soccer.

Over time, Mississippi has turn out to be higher recognized regionally and nationally as Ole Miss; Mississippi State is usually recognized merely as State,  which head coach Mike Leach typically shows on his game-day sweatshirt.

Listed here are 10 issues each fan must learn about Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State:

10. It simply meant extra even earlier than the SEC
The Rebels and the Bulldogs have been SEC rivals since each turned constitution members in 1933.

However their rivalry predates that and has gone via three eras. They 1st competed in opposition to one another as independents, assembly 15 instances. Then they met as members of the Southern Convention 11 instances (1922-32) till the SEC was shaped.

9. Altering venues
The groups have alternated internet hosting this recreation on their campuses since 1991, however over time they’ve met 35 instances at impartial websites.

The impartial websites have been Jackson (29 instances, together with each season from 1973-90), Tupelo (1915-17), Greenwood (1920-21), Clarksdale (1919) and Columbus (1904). Throw in Oxford and Starkville and that’s a complete of seven venues to host the sport.

8. State wasn’t all the time the Bulldogs
When the rivalry started, Mississippi State was referred to as Mississippi A&M and the group’s nickname, fittingly, was the Aggies.

Alongside the way in which the group was also referred to as the Mississippi State School Maroons (1933-60) earlier than formally turning into the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 1961.

7. Battle for the Golden Egg
After Ole Miss snapped a 13-game shedding streak within the collection with a 7-6 victory in 1926, Rebels followers ran onto the sector in Starkville and tried to tear down the purpose posts and fights ensued.

The faculties’ pupil our bodies, hoping to maintain that from occurring once more, established a trophy the subsequent season that may go to the winner. The football-shaped trophy resembled an egg and was named the Golden Egg, and therefore the sport was named “The Battle for the Golden Egg.” Ole Miss gained the inaugural trophy, 20-12, in 1927.

6. Turning into a bowl
Although the trophy was known as the Golden Egg from its creation, it was a half a century earlier than the Egg Bowl title appeared. That got here in 1977 in a headline within the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, and the title caught.

5. Double dipping
The Egg Bowl is the one “bowl” by which the Rebels and the Bulldogs have met.

However they did meet twice in 1918, when video games have been canceled as a result of Spanish flu pandemic and the faculties have been left scrambling to seek out opponents.

4. Ties and overtimes
The Rebels and the Bulldogs performed to a tie 5 instances earlier than the NCAA instituted time beyond regulation play.

The video games have gone into time beyond regulation simply as soon as, with State prevailing 17-10 in 2013.

3. Longest streaks
State’s longest successful streak is 13 video games (between 1911-25), again when the groups didn’t play each season. 9 of these wins have been by shutout. Ole Miss’ longest successful streak is simply 6 video games (twice, 1930-35 and 1947-52), however the Rebels went 17 years with no loss from 1947-1963. They gained 6 in row, then tied, gained 3 in a row, tied, gained 5 in a row and tied once more earlier than the Bulldogs broke via.

2. Highest rankings
The best that State has been ranked going into the Ole Miss recreation is No. 4 in 2014, when the Bulldogs misplaced to the 18th-ranked Rebels 31-17.

The best that Ole Miss has been ranked going through State was No. 2 in 1959 and the Rebels gained 42-0. That began a streak of 5 consecutive seasons by which Ole Miss was ranked within the Prime 5 when it confronted State. The Rebels have been No. 3 in 1960, No. 5 in 1961 and No. 3 once more in 1962 and 1963. The Rebels gained these 1st 4 conferences by a mixed rating of 127-22 earlier than the groups performed to a 10-all tie in 1963.

1. Thanksgiving Day custom
The Egg Bowl has been performed on Thanksgiving a number of instances. However we’re undecided precisely what number of instances as a result of the faculties don’t agree on just a few of the dates.

There appears to be settlement that the sport was performed on Thanksgiving in 1905, 1907, 1909-11, 1918, 1926-32, 1937, 1969, 1971, 2013, 2017-19, 2021-22. The dates in 1906, 1908, 1929 and 1970 are unclear, in line with the Clarion-Ledger.