AUBURN, Alabama -- The breakout game came Nov. 28, 2009 when then-sophomore Chris Relf accounted for three touchdowns in Mississippi State's resounding Egg Bowl win over Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs were on their way up, and Chris Relf --- referred to as a "little-used backup" in the game story from the Associated Press -- had arrived.
Two years later and now a senior, the Carver-Montgomery product is in the midst of the finest stretch of his career at the helm of what could be one the league's most potent offenses.
Stopping Relf and the Bulldogs' explosive offense will be the most pressing task for an Auburn defense still smarting from last week's embarrassing performance against Utah State.
"You can tell this is a completely different young man than when we played them last September," Chizik said. "I think he's extremely poised and confident in what he's doing....Through the growth of all last year and this year, he's got every reason and right to feel that way."
Relf and the Bulldogs struggled offensively against the Tigers last year in Starkville but still were in a position to win or tie on the final drive.
After blocking a field goal, the Bulldogs converted a third down and fourth down and reached the Auburn 41. The drive ended with an incomplete pass by Relf on fourth-and-15. He passed for only 110 yards and ended the game with five consecutive incomplete passes.
"I'm just ready to play and put that game behind me," Relf told media in Mississippi. "I studied the film but I'm worried about going and playing this game."
He hit his stride late last year. In the final three games of 2010 and the blowout opener against Memphis in 2011, Relf has completed 64-of-94 passes for 995 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
If he maintains anything approaching that pace, he'll finish near the top of virtually every MSU passing category.
Few expected that much out of a two-star recruit, but Relf's rise has corresponded with the implementation of coach Dan Mullen's aggressive spread offense.
Mullen forged his reputation working with elite quarterback Tim Tebow at Florida. He's burnished it by developing Relf into the leader of a top-tier offense.
"It's really incredible the strides they've made, just in terms of everything," Chizik said. "They're an extremely physical, downhill football team. Both the running backs and the quarterback are extremely physical when it comes to running the football, as evidenced with all the yards they rushed for (against Memphis). There's a different level of confidence in the quarterback, in the receivers, in terms of the passing game."
The success of the running game feeds the passing game, Chizik said.
"Their play-action game is really, really good because it comes off such an effective run game," he said. "That offense right now is clicking. It's hitting on all cylinders. There's no question, there's a lot of confidence. Scoring over 50 points in their last two games is not by accident."