Chris Relf passed for 294 yards and three touchdowns as No. 25 Mississippi State rolled over rival Mississippi, 31-23, on Saturday in the “Battle for the Golden Egg.”

Vick Ballard added a rushing score and LaDarius Perkins caught a pair of touchdown passes for the Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 SEC), who were already assured of going to their first bowl game since 2007.

The Rebels (4-8, 1-7) struck first, taking a 6-0 lead after a touchdown run by Jeff Scott in the first quarter. But the second quarter belonged to Mississippi State, with Relf tossing three touchdown passes in the frame to give the Bulldogs a 21-9 lead at the break. Perkins was on the receiving end of the final two passes, racing in from 33 and 36 yards.

The Bulldogs extended their lead in the third, getting a 42-yard field goal from Derek Pasquale and an 8-yard run from Ballard to push it to 31-9.

Ole Miss managed a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter but failed to mount a threat in its final possession.