Sylvester Croom has resigned as head coach of Mississippi State.
Ole Miss humiliated Mississippi State 45-0 on Friday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State lost 97 yards on sacks alone and Ole Miss held the Bulldogs to minus-51 yards rushing, busting the previous school record of minus-16 set against Auburn in 1992.
Ole Miss held Mississippi State to 37 total yards on 56 plays and limited tailback Anthony Dixon to 14 yards a week after he rushed for a career-high 179 yards against Arkansas.
"I didn't see that one coming," Croom said Friday.
The most lopsided Egg Bowl since the Rebels won 48-0 in 1971 and another poor offensive performance by the Bulldogs cast more doubt on the fifth-year coach's future. He signed a contract extension following last year's breakthrough 8-5 performance, but was under pressure after difficulties on offense and special teams cost the Bulldogs this year.
Mississippi State would have been required to pay a multimillion buyout if Croom was fired, but the Bulldogs have had only one winning season since 2000.
Players showed support for their coach after Friday's blowout.
"I wanted to come out and win one for coach Croom," wide receiver Delmon Robinson said. "It's not about the plays, it's about the people out their executing the plays."