Alabama Showdown Is the Biggest Game in a Generation for Mississippi State

Ever since Nick Saban took over as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide prior to the 2007 season, the program has played in enormous football games.

Whether it's the annual showdown with his former LSU program, the rivalry with intrastate foe Auburn, tough out-of-conference matchups or bowl games, big-game atmospheres and Alabama go together like peanut butter and jelly.

It's a different case for No. 1 Mississippi State.

To steal a line from the Adam Sandler hit Big Daddy, big games and Mississippi State go together like lamb and tuna fish.

Well, at least until this year.

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Head coach Dan Mullen's crew has suddenly become synonymous with winning big games after going on the road to beat LSU, 34-29, in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated and then beating defending conference champ Auburn a few weeks later, 38-23, in Starkville.

A win over No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa would cement the staying power of the Bulldogs and put them in position to clinch the division the following week at home against Vanderbilt.

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"It’s a big-time game this week," Mullen said in postgame press conference after the UT-Martin win. "This is what you play for. We’re in the middle of November, competing for first place in the SEC West, which is what it’s all about. That’s what you come here for. That’s what we want our program to be like."

It's never been like this. 

Mississippi State has been to only one SEC Championship Game since the divisional split in 1992—a 24-14 loss to eventual national champion Tennessee in 1998. That Bulldog team, led by head coach Jackie Sherrill, entered the Georgia Dome 8-3 and ranked No. 23. 

My, how things have changed.

"Saturday night's game with Alabama isn't just the biggest in a generation, it's the biggest in the history of the program," said Richard Cross, co-host of Head to Head Radio, syndicated statewide in Mississippi. "Mississippi State is positioned perfectly. Not only do the Bulldogs have a huge opportunity in front of them, they have, arguably, the best team they've ever had to try and capitalize on this opportunity."

Hyperbole? Not at all. It's that big in Starkville.

"This is the biggest football game State has played in since the SEC championship game in 1998, and probably bigger," said Brian Hadad, host of The B&B Show on Bulldog Sports Radio on VSporto. "There were no national title implications for Mississippi State that day. Simply put, in 100 plus years of football, Mississippi State has never played in a game with stakes like this."

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How will Mississippi State react to the big stage? 

Nothing has phased it yet. The Auburn game was complete with ESPN's College GameDay in town, and all Mullen's crew did was build an early 21-0 lead on the Tigers and hold on for the win.

If the Bulldogs follow the same blueprint against Alabama, the same result will follow.

Alabama's win over LSU will be incorrectly be labeled as a quality win for the Crimson Tide. Is it their best win? Yes. But Alabama's offense sputtered in Death Valley, the play-calling was suspect and the defense was susceptible to quarterback Anthony Jennings' ability to make things happen on the ground at times.

Jennings is no Dak Prescott.

The Bulldogs quarterback is in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race, has proved to be a threat with his legs and, unlike Jennings, is dangerous as a passer.

If Prescott leads Mississippi State to a win, the celebration in "StarkVegas" will be a combination of exuberance and relief.

"It means you can exhale," Hadad said. "A win here all but clinches a second SEC West championship and a probable playoff spot. It means State can go to Oxford [to play Ole Miss] knowing its place in Atlanta is secure. Honestly, I don't know how Mississippi State fans will react, because there's no precedent for it."

That precedent is on the brink of being set. If it is Saturday afternoon, it will set off the celebration of a generation in Starkville.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.