The “Egg Bowl” is the nickname for the annual college football rivalry game between Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) and Mississippi State, and it’s called that because of the trophy they play for: the Golden Egg, a brass football that looks like an egg to modern fans.

What the Egg Bowl Is

  • The Egg Bowl is the yearly rivalry game between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, two major college football programs in Mississippi.
  • The series dates back to 1901 and has been played every year since 1944, making it one of the longer continuous rivalries in the United States.

Why it’s Called “Egg” Bowl

  • In 1927, the schools introduced a trophy called the Golden Egg, a brass, regulation‑size 1920s‑style football mounted on a base.
  • Footballs back then were more rounded and ovoid, so to modern eyes the trophy football looks more like an egg , which is where the “Egg” part of the name comes from.

How the Golden Egg Started

  • In 1926, Ole Miss broke a long losing streak and its fans rushed the field, trying to tear down the goalposts, which led to a heated brawl with Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State) supporters.
  • To cool tensions and give both sides something official to celebrate, students from the schools created the Golden Egg trophy for the winner starting with the 1927 game.

When “Egg Bowl” Became the Name

  • For decades, the game was formally known as the “Battle for the Golden Egg.”
  • In 1978, a Jackson Clarion‑Ledger sportswriter labeled the matchup the “Egg Bowl” in a newspaper spread, and the name stuck with fans and media from then on.

Why the Egg Bowl Matters Today

  • The Egg Bowl now symbolizes in‑state bragging rights and “football supremacy” in Mississippi for that season, regardless of national rankings or bowl implications.
  • Even in seasons when neither team is contending nationally, the Egg Bowl often carries intense emotion, storylines, and drama, keeping it a regular talking point in sports media and fan forums each November.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.