Tensions are always high when Mississippi and Mississippi State collide on the gridiron, but this week's meeting seems even more intense than normal.
In fact, the athletic directors from both schools sent out a request to fans, hoping to prevent emotions from boiling over on Thursday for the Egg Bowl in Starkville, Miss.
"In the spirit of sportsmanship, we ask that fans from both schools honor this storied rivalry with civility and respect for each other," Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork and Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen wrote in a joint statement.
The Rebels are ineligible for a bowl game due to an NCAA investigation that led to the offseason departure of former coach Hugh Freeze.