American college football season
The 2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Bulldogs played their home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi , and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year head coach Mike Leach .
In a season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic , the Bulldogs compiled a 3–7 record in a 10-game all-SEC schedule. As the NCAA had waived bowl eligibility requirements for the season,[1] the Bulldogs received an invitation to the Armed Forces Bowl where they defeated Tulsa , becoming one of the few bowl teams with a losing record to record a bowl victory.
SEC Media Days [ edit ] In the preseason media poll, Mississippi State was predicted to finish in a tie for fifth place in the West Division.[2]
Media poll (West Division) Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place) 1 Alabama 660 (86) 2 LSU 489 (8) 3 Auburn 488 4 Texas A&M 454 (2) T5 Ole Miss 238 T5 Mississippi State 238 7 Arkansas 121
Schedule [ edit ] Mississippi State announced its 2020 football schedule on August 7, 2019.[3] The 2020 schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season.
The Bulldogs had games scheduled against Alabama A&M , New Mexico , NC State , and Tulane , but were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[4] [5] [6]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 26 2:30 p.m. at No. 6 LSU CBS W 44–3421,124 October 3 6:30 p.m. Arkansas No. 16 SECN Alt. L 14–2113,564 October 10 6:30 p.m. at Kentucky SECN L 2–2412,000 October 17 3:00 p.m. No. 11 Texas A&M Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS ESPN L 14–2813,142 October 31 6:00 p.m. at No. 2 Alabama ESPN L 0–4119,424 November 7 2:30 p.m. Vanderbilt Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS SECN W 24–1712,888 November 21 6:30 p.m. at No. 13 Georgia SECN L 24–3120,524 November 28 3:00 p.m. at Ole Miss SECN L 24–3116,218 December 12[a] 6:30 p.m. Auburn Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS SECN L 10–2412,986 December 19 2:30 p.m. Missouri Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS SECN Alt. W 51–3211,748 December 31 11:00 a.m. vs. No. 24 Tulsa * ESPN W 28–269,000
^[a] The game between Auburn and Mississippi State was postponed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 on the Mississippi State team. The game was originally scheduled for November 14. Schedule Source: [7] Rankings [ edit ] Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final AP RV RV RV RV 16 RV RV — Coaches RV RV RV RV 14 RV RV — CFP Not released Not released
Game summaries [ edit ] At No. 6 LSU [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total • Bulldogs 3 14 10 17 44 No. 6 Tigers 0 14 10 10 34
Over/under Pregame line LSU -14.5 57
Statistics MSST LSU First downs 24 25 Total yards 632 425 Rushing yards 9 80 Passing yards 623 345 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 30:28 29:32
Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing K. J. Costello 36–60, 623 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Rushing Kylin Hill 7 carries, 34 yards Receiving Osirus Mitchell 7 receptions, 183 yards, 2 TDs LSU Passing Myles Brennan 27–46, 345 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Chris Curry 9 carries, 47 yards Receiving Terrace Marshall Jr. 8 receptions, 122 yards, 2TD
Arkansas [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Razorbacks 7 7 7 0 21 No. 16 Bulldogs 7 0 7 0 14
Statistics
Statistics ARK MSST First downs 17 24 Total yards 275 400 Rushing yards 63 87 Passing yards 212 313 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 23:40 36:20
Team Category Player Statistics Arkansas Passing Feleipe Franks 20–28, 212 yards, 2 TD Rushing Trelon Smith 14 rushes, 48 yards Receiving De'Vion Warren 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing K. J. Costello 43–59, 313 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Dillon Johnson 9 rushes, 39 yards, TD Receiving Osirus Mitchell 5 receptions, 61 yards
At Kentucky [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Bulldogs 0 0 2 0 2 Wildcats 0 14 0 10 24
Statistics
Statistics MSST UK First downs 18 10 Total yards 295 157 Rushing yards 20 84 Passing yards 275 73 Turnovers 6 1 Time of possession 34:49 25:11
Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing K. J. Costello 36–55, 232 yards, 4 INT Rushing Kylin Hill 7 rushes, 17 yards Receiving Kylin Hill 15 receptions, 79 yards Kentucky Passing Terry Wilson 8–20, 73 yards, TD Rushing Terry Wilson 13 rushes, 50 yards Receiving Josh Ali 2 receptions, 22 yards
No. 11 Texas A&M [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total No. 11 Aggies 0 14 14 0 28 Bulldogs 0 0 7 7 14
Statistics
Statistics TAMU MSST First downs 17 15 Total yards 325 217 Rushing yards 186 -2 Passing yards 139 219 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:32 29:28
Team Category Player Statistics Texas A&M Passing Kellen Mond 13–23, 139 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Isaiah Spiller 18 rushes, 114 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chase Lane 2 receptions, 70 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 15–18, 120 yards, TD Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 7 rushes, 25 yards Receiving Malik Heath 5 receptions, 57 yards, TD
At No. 2 Alabama [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Bulldogs 0 0 0 0 0 • No. 2 Crimson Tide 17 10 0 14 41
Pregame line Over/under −31 63.5
Statistics
Statistics MSST ALA First downs 12 26 Total yards 200 499 Rushing yards 37 208 Passing yards 163 291 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 28:18 31:42
Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 24–37, 147 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 9 rushes, 32 yards Receiving Jo'Quavious Marks 8 receptions, 38 yards Alabama Passing Mac Jones 24–31, 291 yards, 4 TD Rushing Najee Harris 21 rushes, 119 yards Receiving DeVonta Smith 11 receptions, 203 yards, 4 TD
Vanderbilt [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Commodores 0 0 7 10 17 Bulldogs 14 3 0 7 24
Statistics
Statistics VAN MSST First downs 30 14 Total yards 478 204 Rushing yards 142 -22 Passing yards 336 226 Turnovers 5 0 Time of possession 32:10 27:50
Team Category Player Statistics Vanderbilt Passing Ken Seals 31–46, 336 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Keyon Henry-Brooks 20 rushes, 115 yards, TD Receiving Cam Johnson 10 receptions, 114 yards Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 35–46, 226 yards, TD Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 6 rushes, 10 yards, TD Receiving Malik Heath 9 receptions, 79 yards
At No. 13 Georgia [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Bulldogs 3 14 7 0 24 No. 13 Bulldogs 0 17 7 7 31
Statistics
Statistics MSST UGA First downs 20 18 Total yards 358 409 Rushing yards 22 8 Passing yards 336 401 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 32:07 27:53
Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 41–52, 336 yards, TD Rushing Dillon Johnson 8 rushes, 19 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jaden Walley 7 receptions, 115 yards, TD Georgia Passing J. T. Daniels 28–38, 401 yards, 4 TD Rushing Zamir White 11 rushes, 21 yards Receiving Jermaine Burton 8 receptions, 197 yards, 2 TD
At Ole Miss [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Bulldogs 0 14 0 10 24 Rebels 14 7 0 10 31
Over/under Pregame line Ole Miss –9.5 70.5
Statistics
Statistics MSST MISS First downs 23 24 Total yards 479 550 Rushing yards 39 163 Passing yards 440 387 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 32:27 27:33
Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 45–61, 440 yards, 3 TD Rushing Will Rogers 4 rushes, 26 yards Receiving Jaden Walley 9 receptions, 176 yards Ole Miss Passing Matt Corral 24–36, 385 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jerrion Ealy 18 rushes, 93 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Moore 12 receptions, 139 yards
1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 3 3 3 15 24 Bulldogs 0 3 0 7 10
Over/under Pregame line Auburn –6.5 74.6
Statistics
Statistics AUB MSST First downs 19 17 Total yards 343 240 Rushing yards 218 19 Passing yards 125 221 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 30:56 29:04
Team Category Player Statistics Auburn Passing Bo Nix 15–32, 125 yards, TD Rushing Tank Bigsby 26 rushes, 192 yards Receiving Seth Williams 3 receptions, 57 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 30–51, 221 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Dillon Johnson 5 rushes, 30 yards Receiving Jaden Walley 8 receptions, 100 yards
Missouri [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 7 3 8 14 32 Bulldogs 14 13 7 17 51
Statistics
Statistics MIZ MSST First downs 22 24 Total yards 342 446 Rushing yards 101 151 Passing yards 241 295 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 28:57 31:03
Team Category Player Statistics Missouri Passing Connor Bazelak 22–38, 225 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Larry Rountree III 25 rushes, 121 yards, 2 TD Receiving Keke Chism 6 receptions, 64 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 21–36, 295 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 12 rushes, 70 yards, TD Receiving Jaden Walley 5 receptions, 129 yards, TD
Vs. No. 24 Tulsa (Armed Forces Bowl) [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total No. 24 Golden Hurricane 0 6 7 13 26 Bulldogs 7 0 14 7 28
Statistics
Statistics TLSA MSST First downs 27 16 Total yards 484 271 Rushing yards 137 123 Passing yards 347 148 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 31:19 28:41
Team Category Player Statistics Tulsa Passing Zach Smith 26–46, 347 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Corey Taylor II 20 rushes, 80 yards, TD Receiving Keylon Stokes 9 receptions, 117 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 19–30, 148 yards, TD Rushing Jo'Quavious Marks 11 rushes, 72 yards, TD Receiving Austin Williams 3 receptions, 42 yards
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ] References [ edit ] ^ "DI Council approves football bowl eligibility requirements waiver" . NCAA.org (Press release). October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020 . ^ "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced" . SECSports.com . Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2020. ^ "2020 Football Schedule Announced" . Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. August 7, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020 . ^ Talty, John. "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season" . AL.com . Retrieved July 30, 2020 . ^ Visser, David (July 21, 2020). "SWAC Suspends Fall Football Season" . FBSchedules.com . Retrieved July 20, 2020 . ^ Dellenger, Ross. "Sources: SEC Adopts Conference-Only Schedule With Sept. 26 Start" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved July 30, 2020 . ^ "2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule" . FB Schedules. Retrieved January 11, 2020 .
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