The 1999 Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic was a post-season college football game played on January 1, 1999. It pitted Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams and the Texas Longhorns against the SEC West champions Mississippi State Bulldogs. This game was notable in that it was the first time Texas had reached the post-season since the 1996 season. It was the first bowl game for Texas under new head coach Mack Brown, who would go on to transform Texas back into a college football powerhouse. Texas had compiled an 8-3 season record.