Mississippi State baseball coach Brian O’Connor will experience his first in-state rivalry game against Ole Miss this weekend. The Bulldogs, ranked as high as No. 3 nationally, will face the Rebels with a 21-4 record (4-2 SEC). Ole Miss stands at 19-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
O’Connor, who was preparing to leave for Oxford on Thursday, recalled his memorable first visit to Swayze Field nearly 17 years ago. During an NCAA Super Regional, his Virginia Cavaliers defeated Ole Miss in back-to-back games to advance to the College World Series. He described the experience as “fantastic college baseball,” emphasizing the high level of competition and the intensity of the rivalry.
While this weekend’s series does not determine a trip to Omaha, O’Connor sees it as a matchup between two programs with national championship potential. “This is just another reason why you come to the SEC,” he said. “You play high-level opponents every weekend with great crowds and great rivalries.”
O’Connor highlighted the historic rivalry between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, which includes an SEC series and a Governor’s Cup game. State leads the all-time series 268-213-5. Last season, Mississippi State won two of three games at Starkville, while Ole Miss claimed victory in the Governor’s Cup.
He also expressed admiration for Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco. “Mike has been the staple of consistency at Ole Miss,” O’Connor said. “His teams play the game the right way, and he’s a good man.” O’Connor noted his previous meetings with Ole Miss, including two games in the 2014 College World Series, which his Virginia team won.
O’Connor pointed out that Ole Miss pitcher Hunter Elliott, who started the Rebels’ 2022 College World Series championship game, will be on the mound Friday night. “Elliott has been one of the premier pitchers in college baseball for years,” he said. Mississippi State will counter with a lineup that features a .347 team batting average, 39 home runs, and 66 doubles in 25 games.
He described his team’s offensive depth and power, noting, “There’s power and speed in our lineup. We can score runs anywhere in the order.” O’Connor acknowledged that his team’s performance this season compares favorably with some of his best Virginia teams, though he added, “There’s a long way to go.”
The series begins Friday at 6:30 p.m., with games scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. This matchup marks O’Connor’s first experience with the historic rivalry that has produced legendary figures in college baseball history.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
