The two schools share much in common – team colors, dog mascots, land grant university status, military school heritage and first rate veterinary schools, as well as a strong dislike for the “University of” state school in their respective states. Those similarities, along with some coaching connections, were highlighted in detail in a M&WN article from a couple of years ago.
Despite the many similarities, Mississippi State and Texas A&M are relative strangers on the football field. Saturday’s meeting will be only the tenth time the two school have played football, but it will mark the fifth time they have played as members of the SEC.