Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry

Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry
First meetingNovember 14, 1896
Alabama, 20–0
Latest meetingSeptember 30, 2023
Alabama, 40–17
Next meetingTBD
Statistics
Meetings total108
All-time series86–18–3
Alabama leads 88–17–3 on the field, but two wins were vacated or forfeited.
Largest victoryAlabama, 59–0 (1922)
Longest win streakAlabama, 22 (1958–1979)
Current win streakAlabama, 16 (2008–present)
60km
37miles
Mississippi State
Alabama
Locations along Highway 82

The Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry, also known as the 90 Mile Drive or the Battle for Highway 82, is an American college football rivalry between 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). 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. Mississippi State is Alabama's most played opponent, while Alabama is MSU's third most played team behind Ole Miss and LSU. Aside from the Alabama–Ole Miss football rivalry, it also has been one of the league's most lopsided with Alabama leading the series 86–18–3 through the 2023 season.