Under the bright lights of Dudy Noble Field, the Mississippi State Bulldogs will welcome the 24th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels for a three-game series starting Friday. Despite Ole Miss winning the mid-week Governor’s Cup a few weeks ago, the three-game series in Starkville this weekend is for all the marbles. A win over the other and the other fan base has bragging rights for an entire year and the leg up in recruiting the state of Mississippi. Down here, the battle for Mississippi divides towns, churches, and even schools; for these next few days, the entire state will shut down to enjoy the greatest rivalry in college sports.

Despite winning the first meeting, Ole Miss enters the series with Mississippi State licking the wounds of losing two out of three on the road at Oklahoma last weekend. Neither team played a midweek this week in preparation for the weekend series.

For Mississippi State, the Bulldogs come into the Ole Miss series riding the high of an undefeated week last week with wins over Memphis in the midweek and a sweep on Super Bulldog Weekend over the Kentucky Wildcats. Unlike their counterparts, the Bulldogs fired Coach Lemonis last Monday and seemed to awaken a sleeping giant with knockdown pitching and explosive offense.

We’ll see Ole Miss roll out Hunter Elliott on Friday night, Riley Maddox on Saturday, and Mason Nichols on Sunday. The group’s wildcard is Mason Morris, who comes out of the bullpen, but many across Rebel Nation seem to want Coach Bianco and his staff to give Morris the Sunday starting role.

Conversely, Mississippi State will have Pico Kohn on Friday night, Evan Siary on Saturday, and Karson Ligon on Sunday. Ben Davis will come in for long relief stints against the Rebels this weekend out of the bullpen.

From a matchup standpoint, these two teams are just about even; Mississippi State is playing for their postseason life, while the Rebels are trying to salvage an opportunity to host an Oxford Regional. However, when these two play, records be damned, expect the unexpected as the Rebels and Bulldogs meet in Starkville for all the marbles.

Weather permitting, Mississippi State and Ole Miss will open the three-game series on Friday night at 7:30 on the SEC Network.