OXFORD, Miss. – No. 18 MSU and Ole Miss meet for the 115th time and the 91st edition of the Battle for the Golden Egg on Thanksgiving Night at 6:30 p.m. in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It's the second straight season and 23rd time the Egg Bowl has been played on Thanksgiving. State has won five out of the last nine meetings, including the largest victory since 1916 the last time in Oxford in 2016 by a margin of 55-20.
For complete gameday and stadium information, visit Live streaming video is available via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Listening Information
The MSU Sports Network C Spire Tailgate Show, hosted by Bart Gregory and Matt Wyatt of the MSU Football Radio Network goes live at 4:30 p.m. Neil Price, Matt Wyatt and Jay Perry will call the game on the network (check for affiliates here). Live audio is also available for FREE at HailState.com and via the TuneIn app. Fans in Starkville can tune to 100.9 FM. Fans inside the stadium can tune to 100.5.
Gates Open
Gates at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will open at 4:30 p.m.
Cowbells
Cowbells will not be permitted at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Social Media/Live Stats
Live updates from the game are available via MSU's official social media channels: OleMiss.StatBroadcast.com.
Weather
Temperatures at kickoff will be around 48 degrees … clear skies with a five percent chance of rain.
Series History
– This is the 115th meeting between Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
– This is the 91st edition of the Battle for the Golden Egg.
– The Golden Egg trophy has been given to the winning team every year since 1927 as a joint agreement by the student bodies.
– The game was given the nickname “Egg Bowl” by Clarion-Ledger sportswriter Tom Patterson in 1979.
– Ole Miss leads the all-time series 64-44-6.
– The visiting team has won the last three meetings with both teams scoring over 20 points in all three of those contests.
– In the last meeting in Oxford in 2016, State recorded the largest margin of victory in the series since 1916 in a 55-20 win.
– The 55 points were the most by MSU since 1915.
– This is the 23rd time that the Egg Bowl is being played on Thanksgiving.
– It was first played on Thanksgiving in 1905, a game won by MSU 11-0.
– It will be played on Thanksgiving next year at Mississippi State.
– 96 miles separate the two campuses.
– The two teams first played in 1901 with the Bulldogs winning 17-0.
– The Egg Bowl is the 10th longest uninterrupted rivalry in college football.
By The Numbers
98.01 - Passer rating by MSU opponents this season, which leads the SEC and ranks third in the FBS
85 - TFLs recorded by MSU this season, one away from the 2017 season total and 13 shy of matching the single-season school record of 98 in 2015
10 - Individual 100-yard rushing games combined by four different MSU players this season
8 - Games MSU has allowed fewer than 14 points this season, which is the most in the FBS
3 - Straight seasons with 10+ passing TD and 10+ rushing touchdowns for QB Nick Fitzgerald, joining Dak Prescott and Tim Tebow as the only players in SEC history to accomplish that feat
2.9 - Points MSU is allowing per red-zone trip this season, which is the fewest in the FBS
Five Things To Know
1. QB Nick Fitzgerald was responsible for five touchdowns against Arkansas last Saturday (4 passing + 1 rushing) and enters the final regular-season game of his career with 96 total touchdowns responsible for, which ranks fifth among active FBS leaders and eighth in SEC history. No player in MSU history has rushed for more touchdowns in a career than Fitzgerald who has 43 to his credit.
2. The 2018 senior class owns a 31-19 record, which puts them in a tie for sixth in MSU history among senior classes. One more win would give them fifth place. This senior class has reached a bowl game every year of their careers and produced multiple nine-win seasons. They own six victories over top 25 teams.
3. All-America candidates and Bednarik Award semifinalists DT Jeffery Simmons (12.5) and DE Montez Sweat (12) have combined for 24.5 TFLs in 2018 after combining for 27.5 in 13 games last season.
4. MSU has won nine straight games against SEC teams when allowing less than 100 yards rushing dating back to the 34-29 win at No. 8 LSU in 2014. The Bulldogs have done that three times this season and most recently in their last game on Nov. 17 against Arkansas, holding the Razorbacks to 69 yards on the ground.
5. The leader of arguably college football's top defensive unit, Bulldogs defensive coordinator and safeties coach Bob Shoopwas named one of 15 semifinalists Tuesday for the Broyles Award. The award is given annually to the nation's top assistant coach and was created in 1996 recognizing coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his almost two decades as head coach at Arkansas. From a historical perspective, Shoop's 2018 defense is one of the best in the 119-year history of MSU's program. His unit has allowed the fewest touchdowns in the nation (12) and is allowing only 12.8 points per game, which leads the SEC, ranks second in the FBS and represents the program's best per-game average since 1981 (12.4). Through 11 games this season, Shoop's squad is tops in the SEC in 13 different statistical categories.
For complete gameday and stadium information, visit Live streaming video is available via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Listening Information
The MSU Sports Network C Spire Tailgate Show, hosted by Bart Gregory and Matt Wyatt of the MSU Football Radio Network goes live at 4:30 p.m. Neil Price, Matt Wyatt and Jay Perry will call the game on the network (check for affiliates here). Live audio is also available for FREE at HailState.com and via the TuneIn app. Fans in Starkville can tune to 100.9 FM. Fans inside the stadium can tune to 100.5.
Gates Open
Gates at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will open at 4:30 p.m.
Cowbells
Cowbells will not be permitted at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Social Media/Live Stats
Live updates from the game are available via MSU's official social media channels: OleMiss.StatBroadcast.com.
Weather
Temperatures at kickoff will be around 48 degrees … clear skies with a five percent chance of rain.
Series History
– This is the 115th meeting between Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
– This is the 91st edition of the Battle for the Golden Egg.
– The Golden Egg trophy has been given to the winning team every year since 1927 as a joint agreement by the student bodies.
– The game was given the nickname “Egg Bowl” by Clarion-Ledger sportswriter Tom Patterson in 1979.
– Ole Miss leads the all-time series 64-44-6.
– The visiting team has won the last three meetings with both teams scoring over 20 points in all three of those contests.
– In the last meeting in Oxford in 2016, State recorded the largest margin of victory in the series since 1916 in a 55-20 win.
– The 55 points were the most by MSU since 1915.
– This is the 23rd time that the Egg Bowl is being played on Thanksgiving.
– It was first played on Thanksgiving in 1905, a game won by MSU 11-0.
– It will be played on Thanksgiving next year at Mississippi State.
– 96 miles separate the two campuses.
– The two teams first played in 1901 with the Bulldogs winning 17-0.
– The Egg Bowl is the 10th longest uninterrupted rivalry in college football.
By The Numbers
98.01 - Passer rating by MSU opponents this season, which leads the SEC and ranks third in the FBS
85 - TFLs recorded by MSU this season, one away from the 2017 season total and 13 shy of matching the single-season school record of 98 in 2015
10 - Individual 100-yard rushing games combined by four different MSU players this season
8 - Games MSU has allowed fewer than 14 points this season, which is the most in the FBS
3 - Straight seasons with 10+ passing TD and 10+ rushing touchdowns for QB Nick Fitzgerald, joining Dak Prescott and Tim Tebow as the only players in SEC history to accomplish that feat
2.9 - Points MSU is allowing per red-zone trip this season, which is the fewest in the FBS
Five Things To Know
1. QB Nick Fitzgerald was responsible for five touchdowns against Arkansas last Saturday (4 passing + 1 rushing) and enters the final regular-season game of his career with 96 total touchdowns responsible for, which ranks fifth among active FBS leaders and eighth in SEC history. No player in MSU history has rushed for more touchdowns in a career than Fitzgerald who has 43 to his credit.
2. The 2018 senior class owns a 31-19 record, which puts them in a tie for sixth in MSU history among senior classes. One more win would give them fifth place. This senior class has reached a bowl game every year of their careers and produced multiple nine-win seasons. They own six victories over top 25 teams.
3. All-America candidates and Bednarik Award semifinalists DT Jeffery Simmons (12.5) and DE Montez Sweat (12) have combined for 24.5 TFLs in 2018 after combining for 27.5 in 13 games last season.
4. MSU has won nine straight games against SEC teams when allowing less than 100 yards rushing dating back to the 34-29 win at No. 8 LSU in 2014. The Bulldogs have done that three times this season and most recently in their last game on Nov. 17 against Arkansas, holding the Razorbacks to 69 yards on the ground.
5. The leader of arguably college football's top defensive unit, Bulldogs defensive coordinator and safeties coach Bob Shoopwas named one of 15 semifinalists Tuesday for the Broyles Award. The award is given annually to the nation's top assistant coach and was created in 1996 recognizing coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his almost two decades as head coach at Arkansas. From a historical perspective, Shoop's 2018 defense is one of the best in the 119-year history of MSU's program. His unit has allowed the fewest touchdowns in the nation (12) and is allowing only 12.8 points per game, which leads the SEC, ranks second in the FBS and represents the program's best per-game average since 1981 (12.4). Through 11 games this season, Shoop's squad is tops in the SEC in 13 different statistical categories.
