WATCH: Egg Bowl animosity starting early, teams get into pregame scuffle

Ole Miss and Mississippi State do not like each other. That much is obvious.

Things were getting heated before Thursday night’s Egg Bowl — from nasty message board posts to a pre-game scuffle on the field.

Although it didn’t appear to be anything too serious, players got into a brief “rumble” before the game.

Luckily, cooler heads prevailed, as a tweet from beat reporter Joel Coleman pointed out.

The Rebels and Bulldogs are scheduled to kick off from Starkville at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

So much for hugs folks. The Royal Rumble has begun in Starkville. Cooler heads prevailed for now. pic.twitter.com/dcSbT8fhJ3

— Joel Coleman (@JoelTColeman) November 23, 2017

A.J. Brown (Ole Miss wide receiver) and Willie Gay (Mississippi State linebacker), who both played at Starkville High School, apparently were hugging it out before the fight ensued:

Willie Gay and AJ Brown hugging at midfield. Pretty cool moment. Big smiles on faces.

— Joel Coleman (@JoelTColeman) November 23, 2017

Although, that didn’t seem to stop their teammates from going at it.

Cody McClure

Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.