LSU and Ole Miss have a history that predates 1900 and has spanned over 100 games. And yet, it wasn't until 2008 that the series finally got a name befitting its participants.

The Magnolia Bowl, named for the state flower of both Louisiana and Mississippi, is now a trophy game that is played between two SEC institutions. Saturday marks its 17th meeting under the current banner and the 113th meeting between the schools overall.

LSU enters this showdown 4-1, whereas Ole Miss is 5-1 so far this year. LSU's lone loss came in Week 1 to USC, and Ole Miss lost a game to Kentucky in Week 5.

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Even so, with the elimination of divisions, both teams have SEC Championship Game aspirations, and this game is a major part of that path. A second SEC loss for Ole Miss would be difficult to overcome, while a second overall loss for LSU would be a major speed-bump as well.

Here's what to know about the Magnolia Bowl, including its namesake and the series record.

Why is LSU-Ole Miss called the Magnolia Bowl?

LSU and Ole Miss first played each other in 1894, but it wasn't until more than a century later their game got a nickname.

In 2008, the game was coined the Magnolia Bowl, named after the state flower of both Louisiana and Mississippi.

"After narrowing down the hundreds of names we received, we asked students at both Ole Miss and LSU to vote on their favorite title from a list of five choices," said Elizabeth Yerger, then Director of Student Services for the Ole Miss Associated Student Body in 2008, per the Ole Miss website. "The title Magnolia Bowl was the obvious winner at both of the schools, because the Magnolia serves as the state flower for both Mississippi and Louisiana."

LSU vs Ole Miss series record

LSU leads the series over Ole Miss, with a record of 64-38-3, per the Ole Miss athletics website.

While the Rebels have won two of their last three meetings, including a 55-49 barnburner in 2023, the Tigers have won six of the last eight overall and had a five-game winning streak heading into 2021.

LSU vs Ole Miss trophy

In addition to the Magnolia Bowl namesake, the two have also played for a trophy since 2008.

Named the Magnolia Bowl Trophy, it dons the visage of a magnolia flower with a basic backdrop adorned with the LSU Ole Miss word-marks.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Why is LSU-Ole Miss called the Magnolia Bowl? Series record, history