Quick Nuggets of Mississippi State vs. South Carolina

Mississippi State and South Carolina have met 14 times on the gridiron in what has been a close series.  Here are a few quick nuggets about the series.

SERIES HISTORY: South Carolina leads 8-6

The Bulldogs and Gamecocks have only met in SEC games with their first matchup coming in 1992, South Carolina's first season in the SEC. South Carolina won that first contest 21-6 in Columbia.  The Bulldogs won six of the next seven contests before South Carolina went on a six game (still active) winning streak against Mississippi State.

LAST MEETING: South Carolina 14, Mississippi State 12 (2011, in Starkville)

Mississippi State's Tyler Russell made his first start in this contest against the Gamecocks, and he nearly led the Bulldogs to victory over the foes from South Carolina.

The Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Russell connected with Chris Smith on a 19-yard touchdown pass.  Marcus Lattimore tied the game with a four-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Derek DePasquale put the Bulldogs ahead 10-7 with a fourth quarter field goal before Alshon Jeffery leapt over two Bulldog defenders to snag a touchdown pass with under four minutes to play to give South Carolina a 14-10 lead.

The Bulldogs looked to be driving for the go-ahead score, but Russell was intercepted by D.J. Swearinger.  Connor Shaw, who made the start in the place of a dismissed Stephen Garcia, ran out of the back of the end zone to kill the clock on the final play giving the Bulldogs their final points.

MEMORABLE GAMES: South Carolina 16 , Mississippi State 14 (September 20, 2011)

Just nine days before, Americans had been shocked by terrorist attacks on September 11. Mississippi State and South Carolina, both ranked in the top 25, squared off in the first major sporting event since that day.  Being at that game was a surreal experience marked with an amazing pre-game with both teams helping unfurl a giant flag, a defiant USA chant, and everyone singing "God Bless America."  Anyone who was there will probably never forget the moment.

Our friends at GABA did a great write-up of the game.