2021 Liberty Bowl

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2021 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
63rd Liberty Bowl
1234 Total
Mississippi State 0700 7
Texas Tech 103147 34
DateDecember 28, 2021
Season2021
StadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
LocationMemphis, Tennessee
MVPDonovan Smith (QB, Texas Tech)[1]
FavoriteMississippi State by 10
RefereeRiley Johnson (ACC)[2]
Attendance48,615
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
ESPN Radio
AnnouncersESPN: Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), and Andraya Carter (sideline)
ESPN Radio: Sean Kelley (play-by-play), Barrett Jones (analyst), and Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline)
Liberty Bowl
 < 2020 

The 2021 Liberty Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 28, 2021, with kickoff at 6:45 p.m. EST (5:45 p.m. local CST) and televised on ESPN.[3] It was the 63rd edition of the Liberty Bowl, and was one of the 2021–22 bowl games concluding the 2021 FBS football season. Sponsored by automotive retailer AutoZone, the game was officially known as the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Teams[]

Consistent with conference tie-ins, the game was played between teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Big 12 Conference.

This was the eighth meeting between Mississippi State and Texas Tech, with the most recent prior meeting coming in 1970; the Bulldogs led the all-time series, 4–2–1.[4]

Mississippi State Bulldogs[]

Mississippi State, from the SEC, finished the regular season with an overall record of 7–5. This was the Bulldogs' third Liberty Bowl appearance, having appeared in the 2007 and 2013 editions, winning both. In 2007, Mississippi State defeated UCF, 10–3. In the 2013 game, the Bulldogs defeated Rice, 44–7. Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach was the head coach at Texas Tech from 2000 to 2009.

Texas Tech Red Raiders[]

Texas Tech, from the Big 12, finished the regular season with an overall record of 6–6. This was the Red Raiders' first Liberty Bowl appearance. The team was led by interim head coach Sonny Cumbie, who was the starting quarterback at Texas Tech during the 2004 season, playing for Leach.

Game summary[]

2021 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
1 2 34Total
Mississippi State 0 7 007
Texas Tech 10 3 14734

at Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, Tennessee

  • Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2021
  • Game time: 6:45 p.m. EST (5:45 p.m. local CST)
  • Game attendance: 48,615
  • Referee: Riley Jefferson
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), and Andraya Carter (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
First quarter
  • (12:40) TTU - Tahj Brooks 19-yard rush, Jonathan Garibay kick good. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:20. Texas Tech 7–0
  • (3:03) TTU - Jonathan Garibay 31-yard field goal. Drive: 14 plays, 79 yards, 6:24. Texas Tech 10–0
Second quarter
  • (14:08) MSU – Rara Thomas 17-yard pass from Will Rogers, N. McCord kick good. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:55. Texas Tech 10–7
  • (0:13) TTU – Jonathan Garibay 26-yard field goal. Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 0:18. Texas Tech 13–7
Third quarter
  • (9:03) TTU – Donovan Smith 1-yard rush, Jonathan Garibay kick good. Drive: 4 plays, 95 yards, 1:00. Texas Tech 20–7
  • (0:02) TTU – J. J. Sparkman 14-yard pass from Donovan Smith, Jonathan Garibay kick good. Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:04. Texas Tech 27–7
Fourth quarter
  • (8:47) TTU – SaRodorick Thompson 1-yard rush, Jonathan Garibay kick good. Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards, 3:42. Texas Tech 34–7

Statistics[]

Statistics MSU TTU
First downs 21 24
Plays–yards 73–344 72–512
Rushes–yards 20–54 44–260
Passing yards 290 252
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 32–53–1 15–28–0
Time of possession 28:41 30:57
Team Category Player Statistics
Mississippi State Passing Will Rogers 32/53, 290 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Dill Johnson 9 rushes, 62 yards
Receiving Austin Williams 5 receptions, 74 yards
Texas Tech Passing Donovan Smith 15/28, 252 yards, TD
Rushing Tahj Brooks 16 rushes, 107 yards, TD
Receiving Myles Price 3 receptions, 72 yards

References[]

  1. ^ @Theo_DeRosa (December 28, 2021). "Liberty Bowl MVP: Donovan Smith" (Tweet). Retrieved December 28, 2021 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "2021-22 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "2021 College Football Bowl Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Winsipedia - Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech". Winsipedia.com. Retrieved 2021-12-05.

Externals links[]

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