Vick Ballard rushed for a career-high 166 yards and three touchdowns Thursday, and No. 20 Mississippi State set a school record for total offense in a 59-14 blowout of Memphis in the season opener at the Liberty Bowl.

The Bulldogs (1-0) finished with 645 yards of total offense, breaking the school record of 596 yards set against Florida State in 1978.

Mississippi State scored on four of its first six possessions, building a 31-7 halftime lead in beating Memphis for the 12th consecutive time.

Ballard, who rushed for 968 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, scored on a 46-yard run in the first quarter, a 66-yard run in the second quarter and a 1-yard plunge in the third quarter.

Quarterback Chris Relf passed for 202 yards and two touchdowns. Relf connected with Chad Bumphis on a 44-yard touchdown four minutes in, and found Arceto Clark for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. Jameon Lewis caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for a score.

Artaves Gibson rushed for 73 yards, and Billy Foster scored on a 21-yard run in the second quarter for the Tigers (0-1). Taylor Reed passed for 138 yards and a touchdown.

Mississippi State opens SEC play Sept.10 at Auburn. Memphis travels Sept. 10 to Arkansas State.