STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State and Kentucky football teams have developed a unique rivalry in the last 25 years.
The teams have played each other every year since 1990, and became constant opponents when the Southeastern Conference split into two divisions in 1992.
The Bulldogs (5-2, 1-2 SEC) and Wildcats (4-2, 2-2) will renew the series at 6:30 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.
“I think anytime you have your crossover games, a team that you are going to play as your locked-in crossover, there becomes a little bit of a rivalry with that,” MSU coach Dan Mullen said Monday at his news conference. “You know that team, you kind of know each other, and I think that it brings a little different edge.”
Mullen is a 6-0 against Kentucky since taking over as MSU’s coach in 2009. Kentucky’s last win in the series was a 14-13 victory in 2008 in Starkville.
The series is tied at 21, with MSU holding an 11-6 lead in Starkville. MSU’s average winning margin of victory against Kentucky is 9.8 since Mullen took over.
MSU senior quarterback Dak Prescott has rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns and thrown for 484 and three scores in three games against Kentucky. The Haughton, Louisiana, native also caught a 17-yard touchdown in the 2013 game.
“I think they are a team that is trying to do what we did last year and are trying to get where we are, and they are not far from it,” Prescott said.
On Saturday, Prescott joined Florida’s Tim Tebow and Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel as the only SEC quarterbacks to pass for 50 touchdowns and rush for 30 in their careers. Prescott is responsible for 90 touchdowns in his career.
This season, Prescott is 148 of 225 for 1,700 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has gone 274 pass attempts without throwing an interception, the longest active streak in the NCAA. He has rushed for 254 yards and four touchdowns.
In a 45-20 victory against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Prescott threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for a score. His efforts earned him Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week, a Manning Star of the Week, and a Davey O’Brien Award top performer Monday.
MSU’s largest margin of victory against Kentucky in Mullen’s tenure was 14 points (45-31 last year in Lexington, Kentucky). The No. 1 Bulldogs needed an onside kick return for a touchdown by Christian Holmes to secure the victory.
Since Mark Stoops took over at Kentucky program two years ago, the Wildcats have lost by a combined 20 points to the Bulldogs.
“We’ll talk about it briefly, but I don’t think it means much other than we have played with them,” Stoops said. “Hopefully our players will stay confident and just work on the things necessary.”
After opening the season with back-to-back victories against Louisiana-Lafayette and South Carolina, Kentucky has lost to Florida, defeated Missouri and Eastern Kentucky in overtime, and lost to Auburn.
The loss to the Tigers came Thursday at Commonwealth Stadium, so the Wildcats have had a little more time to prepare for the Bulldogs.
“They got to start on us on Saturday and be rested,” Mullen said. “Their players get a couple of days off, couple more days to heal bumps and bruises.”
Kentucky junior quarterback Patrick Towles is 123 of 200 for 1,512 yards and eight touchdowns. He has thrown seven interceptions and has three rushing touchdowns.
Last season against MSU, he threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 76 yards and another two scores.
“He is going to step up in big games,” Mullen said. “He tried to put the team on his shoulders last year, running and throwing.”
n In other news, sophomore linebacker Dez Harris tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Saturday and is out for the rest of the season. He tore the same ligament in the same knee last year. Before his senior year at McCalla High School, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg.
Junior wide receiver Fred Ross was injured in the first half against Louisiana Tech and played sparingly in the second half. He is good to go this week. Junior tight end Gus Walley also left the game in the first half. A decision on his status for the game against Kentucky will be made later in the week. Wide receivers Joe Morrow (shoulder) and Gabe Myles (left foot) are ahead of schedule and should be available. Junior running back Ashton Shumpert (back) and freshman safety Jamal Peters also should be available.
n Wood paces MSU men’s golf team at Mountaineer Intercollegiate: At Bridgeport, West Virginia, Senior Ben Wood fired a 73 and is eighth place following Monday’s first round at the Mountaineer Intercollegiate.
Wood birdied two of his last four holes to help his move up the leaderboard.
As a team, Mississippi State is 13th after posing a 307.
“It was a disappointing day. We have to execute at a higher level, simple as that,” MSU coach Clay Homan said.
Sophomore Taylor Grant shot a 77 and enters today’s final round tied for 35th. Ben Follett-Smith shot a 78 and is tied for 46th. Tim Walker recorded an 80 and is tied for 68th. Jackson Dick carded an 82 and is tied for 74th.
No. 11 Penn State holds a one-shot lead against UConn in the team standings. Marshall’s Clark Robinson leads all individuals after posting a 69.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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