For nearly eight decades, LSU and Mississippi State were fixtures on each other’s schedule, a yearly appointment that survived coaching changes, conference shifts and more than a few wild finishes. That run stretched from 1944 through 2024, making the Bulldogs LSU’s longest-standing rival before Texas and Oklahoma’s arrival in the SEC interrupted the series and pushed the matchup off the board in 2024 and 2025.
The streak nearly reached even farther back. Mississippi State did not field a team in 1943 because of World War II, so if the Bulldogs had taken the field that year, the series would have run uninterrupted from 1926 through 2023. Even without that extra year, the matchup has delivered no shortage of drama, and LSU still owns a 75-36-3 edge not counting a few vacated wins.
One of the most memorable chapters came in 2000. LSU entered that game 4-3 after an overtime win over No.
11 Tennessee in Tiger Stadium, while Mississippi State was ranked 14th. Nick Saban, in his first season as LSU’s head coach, had no intention of watching his team drift.
The Tigers trailed 31-17 in the fourth quarter before Domanick Davis scored from three yards out to cut the deficit to 31-24. Less than four minutes later, Josh Reed hauled in a 20-yard touchdown from Josh Booty to tie it at 31.
Davis then found the end zone again from three yards out to put LSU ahead 38-31, only for Mississippi State to answer and force overtime at 38 apiece with 1:59 left in regulation. LSU had the ball first in overtime and cashed in on a 13-yard run by LaBrandon Toefield.
Then came the defensive finish: on fourth and two, Wayne Madkin tried to scramble left for the conversion, but Jeremy Lawrence ran him down and dragged him out of bounds short of the line to gain, sealing LSU’s second overtime win over a top-15 opponent that season.
Another classic arrived in 2014. LSU had won 14 straight in the series, though the 2012 and 2013 victories were later vacated, and both teams entered 3-0 with the SEC opener on deck.
Les Miles’ eighth-ranked Tigers hosted Dan Mullen’s Bulldogs, and Mississippi State came out swinging. The Bulldogs jumped to a 17-0 lead and pushed it to 34-10 in the fourth quarter before LSU mounted a late charge that narrowed the gap to 34-29.
The comeback stopped there, though, and Mississippi State snapped the streak. Dak Prescott, a Louisiana native, led the way for the Bulldogs, going 15 of 24 for 268 yards and two touchdowns while adding 105 rushing yards and another score on 22 carries.
Mississippi State’s defense also held Leonard Fournette to 38 yards on seven carries and sacked Anthony Jennings three times.
LSU has taken the last three meetings, including the most recent one in 2023. Jayden Daniels was electric in that game, completing 30 of 34 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 64 yards on 15 carries and scoring twice more.
Malik Nabers dominated through the air with 13 catches for 239 yards and both receiving touchdowns. LSU’s defense held Mississippi State to 14 points.
Whit Weeks led the Tigers with eight tackles, and Harold Perkins Jr., Mekhi Wingo, Major Burns and Sai’vion Jones each had a sack. Will Rogers completed fewer than 40% of his passes for 103 yards, Woody Marks led a Mississippi State rushing effort that finished with just under 100 yards, Jett Johnson paced the Bulldogs with 14 tackles and Jaden Crumedy had their lone sack.
Much has changed for both programs since then, but Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator is Zach Arnette, who had been the Bulldogs’ head coach.
The next meeting comes Oct. 17 in Baton Rouge, with kickoff set for 11 a.m. CT in Tiger Stadium. ESPN will carry the game.
In Other News...
LSU Has Bigger Problems Than A Homecoming Kickoff Debate
LSUs week has turned into one long reminder that the biggest issue in Baton Rouge is not the homecoming kickoff time. After dropping to 22nd in the rankings following the loss to Kentucky, the Tigers are still trying to steady themselves heading into Mississippi State, with linebacker TJ Dottery and coach Lane Kiffin both stressing the need for cleaner execution. The schedule gripe has drawn some student reaction, but it sits well behind the more immediate concern of getting the football team back on track.
The campus mood could use a lift, and the mens basketball team provided one with an 85-81 win over UCF in a wildly thin rotation. LSU played with only six players amid an eligibility controversy, yet Donovan Dent still delivered the game-winning layup and Abdi Bashir Jr. led the way in scoring. It was the kind of gritty result that gives the program something to point to while the football side works through its own far bigger problems. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Bounce-Back Bid Comes With One Big SEC Concern
LSU heads into Week 7 looking to steady itself at home against Mississippi State after the loss to Kentucky, and the Tigers have enough on their plate already without adding another layer of uncertainty. This is the kind of SEC game that can turn quickly if the matchup script changes early, especially with both teams dealing with injuries and LSU still trying to get back to the level of consistency that made it dangerous in the first place.
Mississippi States quarterback situation is the wrinkle LSU will be watching closely, because the Bulldogs offensive outlook shifts depending on who is available. For LSU, the path back starts with cleaner work on both sides of the ball, better execution in key moments and a sharper response than the one it showed a week ago, but the bigger question is whether the Tigers can prepare for the version of Mississippi State that actually shows up. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Catch A Huge Break In Mississippi State's Backfield
Mississippi State arrives on LSUs schedule with a couple of key offensive questions hanging over its backfield, and both of them trace back to the same injury-hit trip through Alabama. Quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell were each listed as questionable for the matchup with LSU after leaving the previous game hurt, leaving Jeff Lebby and his staff to sort through contingency plans as kickoff gets closer.
For LSU, the uncertainty matters because the Bulldogs offense could look very different if either player is limited or unavailable. Lebby has already identified possible replacements, but the Tigers will be watching to see whether Mississippi State can get either Taylor or Bothwell back in time, since their status could shape how much stress LSUs defense has to absorb on Saturday. [Read more 🡒]