LSU football: History of an age-old rivalry with Mississippi State

LSU football is preparing for a major test this weekend when Mississippi State comes to town. The Bulldogs have gotten off to a fantastic start this season with two convincing non-conference victories over Memphis and Arizona. The Tigers, on the other hand, struggled against the only non-FCS side they faced this year.

There is really no telling what can happen when these two programs get together. At least, that’s been the case for the last eight years. Mississippi State rolls into Tiger Stadium on Saturday as a -2.5 point favorite over its host. LSU will be looking to prove the Vegas oddsmakers wrong for the first time this season and turn an initial spread on its head. Before the two teams take the field this weekend though, let’s take a look back at the history of this age-old rivalry.

LSU football: History of an age-old rivalry with Mississippi State

As anybody who lives in the South may know, there is absolutely no love lost between Louisiana and Mississippi. The two neighboring states are engaged in an endless feud that ranges from education all the way onto the gridiron. As far as these two institutions are concerned, the rivalry between the Tigers and the Bulldogs began all the way back in 1896.

The first 20 games (played from 1896 to 1923) were split right down the middle between LSU and Mississippi State. Each team took nine games from the other and two of the all-time series’ ties came in that period, as well. The Tigers established their dominance for the first time from 1926 to 1938 when they pulled away from their rivals by winning 11 of the next 13.

It’s really been these streaks that the flagship university of Louisiana that has seen it jump out to such a big lead in the all-time series. LSU has gone on two separate 10-or-more game win streaks over the last few decades. The Bayou Bengals emerged victorious in 10 straight match-ups from 1964 to 1973, setting a record for the longest win streak in the rivalry at the time.

That was broken by the purple and gold again from 2000 to 2013 when the Tigers captured 14 games in a row. In fact, between 1992 and 2013, Mississippi State only managed to win one game, a 17-16 win in Starkville in 1999.

Ever since Dak Prescott’s Bulldogs took down LSU in 2014 though, things have been significantly more competitive. Mississippi State has won three of the last eight meetings between the two programs. This includes a shocking win in 2020, which ruined the Tigers’ National Championship flag-raising celebration on the opening day in Baton Rouge.

Mike Leach’s team now strolls into Death Valley in search of a third win on the season. There aren’t many people who have given the Bulldogs the respect they believe they deserve. A win in Tiger Stadium would undoubtedly turn heads around the country if they’re able to win their fourth game in the last nine years against LSU.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are looking to put an opening week loss to Florida State behind them. A win on Saturday would see LSU improve to 77-36-3 all-time against the Bulldogs and begin yet another streak against the maroon and white.