| abstract | - The Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry, sometimes referred to as the 90 Mile Drive or the Battle for Highway 82, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and Mississippi State Bulldogs football team of Mississippi State University. Both universities are founding members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and are currently members of the SEC's Western Division. The two campuses are located approximately 90 miles apart, and are the two geographically closest SEC universities. In 1935, MSU Coach Major Ralph Sasse, on "orders" from his team, went to Memphis, Tennessee, to select the first bulldog mascot. Ptolemy, a gift of the Edgar Webster family, was chosen and the Bulldogs promptly defeated Alabama 20–7. Alabama–Mississippi State is one of the Southeastern Conference's longest-running series, dating back to 1896. Aside from the Alabama–Ole Miss football rivalry, it also has been one of the league's most lopsided with Alabama officially leading the series 74–18–3 (76–17–3 on the field).
|
