Delta State–Mississippi College football rivalry
The Delta State–Mississippi College football rivalry, commonly known as the Heritage Bell Classic, is a college football rivalry game between a public university and a private Christian college in the U.S. state of Mississippi, the Delta State University Statesmen and the Mississippi College Choctaws. The current winner is Delta State, who won, 41–3, on November 11, 2023. Delta State leads the all-time series, 25–16–2.[1][2]
Sport | Football |
---|---|
First meeting | October 26, 1935 Mississippi College, 33–0 |
Latest meeting | November 11, 2023 Delta State, 41–3 |
Trophy | Heritage Bell |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 43 |
All-time series | Delta State leads, 25–16–2 |
Largest victory | Delta State, 41–0 (1955) |
Longest win streak | Delta State, 7 (1994–2018) |
Current win streak | Delta State, 3 (2022–present) |
History
editBackground: 1935–1994
editThe Delta State Statesmen were co-founding members of the Gulf South Conference in 1970. Mississippi College joined the conference in 1972 and played 23 straight games with the Statesmen before the Choctaws left the conference in 1996 which halted the series. The Choctaws left the conference and NCAA Division II to compete at the NCAA Division III level until 2014, when they rejoined the conference and continued the series with Delta State.[3][4]
The annual battle between Delta State and Mississippi College was one of the most anticipated contests in the Magnolia State from 1973 to 1995.[1]
Game results
editDelta State victories | Mississippi College victories | Tie games |
|
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "BATTLE FOR THE BELL: Statesmen to Host MC on Thursday". Delta State University. September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
- ^ "Football Preview: MC vs. Delta State". Mississippi College. September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
- ^ "Matt Wilson named new commissioner of Gulf South Conference". AL.com. March 27, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
- ^ "Mississippi College Releases 2014 Football Schedule, First GSC Games Since 1995". Mississippi College. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016.