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.

[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 leading the series 86–18–3 through the 2023 season.