Chris Relf, Vick Ballard and Chad Bumphis all set career highs for yardage, and Mississippi State handed visiting Alcorn State its first loss, winning 49-16 in the first meeting between the in-state opponents.

Ballard rushed for 119 yards on eight carries and scored on runs of one, 17 and 75 yards, giving him nine touchdowns for the season.

Bumphis caught nine passes for 133 yards, including touchdown catches of three and seven yards from Relf, who completed 11 of 15 passes for a career-best 209 yards.

Quarterback Brandon Bridge passed for 193 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 77 yards and a score for Alcorn State (3-1).

The Bulldogs (3-2) led only 14-7 early in the second quarter, but extended the lead to 35-16 at halftime on Leon Berry's 97-yard kickoff return with 1:35 left in the half.

Mississippi State has won back-to-back games, something it hadn't done in the same season since 2007.

The Bulldogs play at Houston next Saturday night.