Dan Mullen understood rivalries before he arrived at Mississippi State. In fact, he knew all about the Egg Bowl, the annual season-ending, instate end-all for Magnolia State pride.
“The first thing we did was light a match,” said Mullen. He did that by refusing to mention the Rebels by name. Instead, it was “The school up North.”
Mullen soon learned something else: Ole Miss fans hated it while State fans loved the gentle disrespect.
The Egg Bowl is not your normal rivalry. Played in a smaller state, one without pro sports, the regular season-ending affair goes deep. It’s brother vs. brother. Forget politics, this is the game that makes Thanksgiving meals a true adventure.
And with the latest edition fast approaching, what better time is there to tell some tales on Regions Extra: SEC stories. Hosts Peter Burns and Chris Doering needed two episodes to cover everything this time. And whether you are a Bulldog, a Rebel or just love college football, it’s well worth your time.
Forget politics, this is the game that makes Thanksgiving meals a true adventure.
Another former Mississippi State coach, Jackie Sherrill, used the name trick, as well. He would only call his rival program, “Mississippi,” knowing Ole Miss fans also hated that.
Sherrill’s history with the Egg Bowl goes back to his youth, growing up in the state, and he details how the game got its name and why it become a regular holiday feature starting in the 1980s, when television execs told both programs that a Thanksgiving Day date would draw high ratings and unprecedented attention.
Former Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt only learned about the intensity of the rivalry the second time around. After the Rebels won easily his first season, they headed to Starkville the following season and lost. Nutt discovered the true ramifications a few weeks later when he stopped at a feed store in nearby Pontotoc and got a chilly greeting from the proprietor.
“Coach Nutt, you make sure next year you beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs,” Nutt said, recalling the conversation. “I’ve got to put up with this 365 days.”
Listen now to these episodes:
Next up: Burns and Doering get legends of the Iron Bowl to provide their insight leading up to the annual Alabama vs. Auburn game.
What’s happening with Regions and the SEC 2025
Beyond the gridiron, Regions is bringing fans closer to the action.
Let’s call it … Game Day. Giveaways. Great plays and more!
In the SEC, extra always matters. Every extra inch. Every extra second. Every extra ounce of effort. It’s the difference between the ordinary and the unforgettable.
At Regions, we’ve been bringing the same kind of relentless focus to SEC fans and games across the conference and providing some fun and memorable ways for people to be a part of the game day fun.
Regions Teams have already been at key matchups, bringing the Regions Big Bike, prize wheel, and more to both SEC Nation and Fanfare events across the conference.