It has often been said Mississippi State and Ole Miss can’t be dominant in football at the same time like the two teams are doing so in baseball in 2016.
The baseball teams at Mississippi State and Ole Miss are currently clicking along as well as we have ever seen. Both teams are in the top 10 in almost every major poll that matters. A series victory for both teams this weekend would likely mean national seeds for both programs.
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So the question we come back to that has been visited on a number of occasions is if this can be done in baseball at Mississippi State and Ole Miss, why can’t it be done in football? The universal answer for so long has been a resounding no, but what makes the schools and sports so different that there isn’t even a chance of this happening?
The argument always starts with their simply isn’t enough in-state talent for Mississippi State and Ole Miss to split up and still be dominant on a consistent basis. And there is little evidence to disprove this claim. If the Bulldogs and Rebels are ever going to be great at the same time in football, they are both going to have to recruit on a nation wide level
Mississippi natives make up about half the roster for the Mississippi State football team. Compared to the baseball team, the Diamond Dawgs only get about 35% of their players from inside the Magnolia State.
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But if you look at another key difference between the football and baseball rosters, the Bulldogs in football rarely go outside the SEC to find talent. Most players hail from the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.
On the baseball roster, you will find players from all across the country playing in Starkville. California, Florida, and Texas natives are prominent on the roster. Cohen has found and committed players from all across the U.S. to play for Mississippi State.
The Ole Miss football team has very well documented evidence of the fact they believe in taking their recruiting outside the state of Mississippi. Their roster consists of about 40% Mississippi natives, and while many are still located in the southeast, you find more players from abroad.
The Ole Miss baseball roster is very much the same way. It has about a 1/4 of its players from Mississippi. You’ll also find a mix of players from across the country on it as well.
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One day, we might see both the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels sitting in the top 5 as they enter the Egg Bowl. It almost happened in 2014. But until bot the Bulldogs an Rebels land players from other parts of the country. it likely won’t happen any time soon.