The Super Bowl LIV matchup is set in stone. It has been 50 years since the Kansas City Chiefs have won a Super Bowl while the San Francisco 49ers have not won in  in 25 years.  
The Chiefs of the American Football League whipped the NFL champion Minnesota Vikings in 1970 in Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. The 49ers’ last  win was over the San Diego Chargers in 1995. San Francisco is a surprise entry in this year’s Super Bowl as the 49ers only recorded a 4-12 record last year. This year’s game will be played in Miami on Sunday, Feb. 2, in the 100th year of professional football.
LSU THE BEST EVER?
The Tigers of LSU are in the conversation for the best college football team in history after whipping defending National Champion Clemson. LSU beat all the contenders in Clemson, Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma this year. LSU also whipped seven teams that were ranked in the Top 10 at various times during the season.
I can say for sure that LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, with his 60 touchdown passes against only six interceptions, had one of the best seasons ever in college football history. LSU scored an unbelievable 726 points under Burrow’s leadership.
TIDE AND SABAN RULE
Alabama was the best SEC football team of the decade. The Crimson Tide’s record in conference play was 69-11 as they compiled an overall mark of 124-14 and won four National Championships under Nick Saban. LSU was second with a 105-30 mark with 58 SEC wins and one national title. Georgia barely made the 100 win club with a 100-36 mark. Auburn won the other national title of the decade.
Mississippi State under Dan Mullen and Joe Moorhead were 79-51 overall and 37-43 in SEC play. They were 6-4 in bowl games. Ole Miss was 60-64 overall under Houston Nutt, Hugh Freeze and Matt Luke. Inside the SEC they were 26-54 and were 3-1 in bowl games. Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Vanderbilt were the only SEC teams with fewer conference wins than the Rebels.
COACHING CHANGES
Mississippi State defensive back coach Terrell Buckley has joined the Lane Kiffin staff at Ole Miss. Kiffin also kept Derrick Nix and Freddie Roach for Matt Luke’s staff. Bulldogs coach Mike Leach has retained Tony Hughes from Joe Moorhead’s staff. Moorhead is heading to Oregon to join its program. Former USM football coach Todd Monken has been hired as the offensive coordinator at Georgia.
MSU CAGERS ON ROLL
Mississippi State (11-6, 2-3) destroyed both Missouri and Georgia at home last week. It was the first time since 1946 that MSU had beaten two conference teams in back-to-back games by 25 points or more.
USM (5-14, 1-5) won its first conference game at home over Rice this past weekend. Ole Miss was their own worst enemy in their four-point home loss to LSU.  The Rebels missed ten free throws and also blew a six-point lead in the final six minutes. Rebels guard Breein Tyree tallied 36 points as LSU had no answer for his scoring outburst.
Dale McKee is a native of Waynesboro and has been writing sports in Mississippi since 1973. His column appears in several weekly papers throughout the state. You may contact him at ddmckee18@yahoo.com
