American college football season
2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football Conference Southeastern Conference Division Western Division 2021 record 7–6 (4–4 SEC) Head coach Offensive scheme Air raid Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett (2nd season)Base defense 3–3–5 Home stadium Davis Wade Stadium (Capacity: 61,337)Seasons
The 2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2021 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 second-year head coach Mike Leach .
Coaching staff [ ]
Staff from 2021.[1]
Name
Position
Mike Leach
Head Coach
Tony Hughes
Associate Head Coach & Nickelbacks Coach
Zach Arnett
Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers Coach
Special Teams Coordinator & Outside Linebackers Coach
Darcel McBath
Cornerbacks Coach
Running Backs Coach
Offensive Line Coach
Inside Receivers Coach
Defensive Line Coach
Outside Receivers Coach
Safeties Coach
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
SEC Media Days [ ]
In the preseason media poll, Mississippi State was predicted to finish last in the West Division.[2]
West
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Alabama
932 (130)
2
Texas A&M
760 (1)
3
LSU
633 (1)
4
Ole Miss
529 (1)
5
Auburn
440
6
Arkansas
241 (1)
7
Mississippi State
217
Schedule [ ]
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 4 3:00 p.m. Louisiana Tech * ESPNU W 35–3444,669
September 11 6:00 p.m. NC State * Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS ESPN2 W 24–1045,834
September 18 3:00 p.m. at Memphis * Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN ESPN2 L 29–3143,461
September 25 11:00 a.m. LSU Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS (rivalry ) ESPN L 25–2850,298
October 2 6:00 p.m. at No. 15 Texas A&M SECN W 26–2287,973
October 16 6:00 p.m. No. 5 Alabama Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS (rivalry ) ESPN L 9–4953,796
October 23 3:00 p.m. at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN SECN W 45–622,036
October 30 6:00 p.m. No. 12 Kentucky Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS SECN W 31–1749,487
November 6 3:00 p.m. at Arkansas No. 17 SECN L 28–3168,818
November 13 11:00 a.m. at No. 17 Auburn ESPN W 43–3487,451
November 20 11:00 a.m. Tennessee State * No. 25 Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS ESPN+ /SECN+W 55–1046,770
6:30 p.m. No. 9 Ole Miss Davis Wade Stadium Starkville, MS (Egg Bowl ) ESPN L 21–3155,601
5:45 p.m. vs. Texas Tech * ESPN L 7–3448,615
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings , after November 2) - Released prior to game All times are in Central time
[3]
Game summaries [ ]
Louisiana Tech [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Louisiana Tech
7
14 10 3
34
• Mississippi State
14
0 0 21
35
Date: September 4Location: Starkville, MS Game start: 3:02 p.m. Game attendance: 44,669Game weather: 87, Sunny, Wind SE @ 3 mphReferee: James CarterTV announcers (ESPNU ): John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst) [4]
Pregame line
Over/under
-20.5
53
Statistics
LA Tech
MSU
First downs
14
22
Total yards
369
436
Rushing yards
101
66
Passing yards
268
371
Turnovers
2
4
Time of possession
27:40
32:20
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Louisiana Tech
Passing
Austin Kendall
20/36, 269 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Austin Kendall
5 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Bub Means
2 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
39/47, 370 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Jo’Quavious Marks
12 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD’S
Receiving
Jamire Calvin
3 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD
NC State [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
NC State
0
3 0 7
10
• Mississippi State
7
7 7 3
24
Date: September 11Location: Starkville, MSGame start: 6:05 p.m. Game attendance: 45,834Game weather: 83, Sunny, Wind SE @ 4 mphReferee: Jerry MagallaneTV announcers (ESPN2 ): Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline) [6]
Pregame line
Over/under
+1.5
56
Statistics
NC State
MSU
First downs
16
15
Total yards
335
316
Rushing yards
32
22
Passing yards
303
294
Turnovers
3
0
Time of possession
28:54
31:06
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
NC State
Passing
Devin Leary
30/49, 303 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Zonovan Knight
8 carries, 31 yards
Receiving
Emeka Emezie
6 receptions, 92 yards
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
33/49, 294 yards, 2 TD's
Rushing
Dillon Johnson
6 carries, 18 yards
Receiving
Dillon Johnson
6 receptions, 70 yards
at Memphis [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Mississippi State
3
14 0 12
29
• Memphis
7
0 7 17
31
Date: September 18Location: Memphis, TN Game start: 3:05 p.m. Game attendance: 43,461Game weather: 77, Cloudy, Wind NE @ 7 mphReferee: Marc CurlesTV announcers (ESPN2 ): Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (field) [8]
Pregame line
Over/under
-3.0
64
Statistics
MSU
Memphis
First downs
26
12
Total yards
468
246
Rushing yards
49
87
Passing yards
419
159
Turnovers
1
1
Time of possession
40:33
19:27
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
50/67, 419 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Dillon Johnson
7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Makai Polk
11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
Memphis
Passing
Seth Henigan
16/28, 159 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Brandon Thomas
16 carries, 86 yards
Receiving
Calvin Austin III
9 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD
LSU [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• LSU
7
0 14 7
28
Mississippi State
0
3 7 15
25
Date: September 25Location: Starkville, MSGame start: 11:07 a.m. Game attendance: 50,298Game weather: 74, Sunny, Wind NW @ 2 mphReferee: Alex MooreTV announcers (ESPN ): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (analyst), and Kris Budden (sideline reporter) [10]
Pregame line
Over/under
+1.5
56
Statistics
LSU
MSU
First downs
15
29
Total yards
343
486
Rushing yards
63
115
Passing yards
280
371
Turnovers
1
2
Time of possession
24:52
35:08
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
LSU
Passing
Max Johnson
17/27, 280 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Tyrion Davis-Price
13 carries, 51 yards
Receiving
Kayshon Boutte
4 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TD
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
47/62, 371 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Dillon Johnson
8 carries, 51 yards
Receiving
Makai Polk
8 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD
at No. 15 Texas A&M [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Mississippi State
10
7 7 2
26
No. 15 Texas A&M
7
6 6 3
22
Date: October 2Location: College Station, TX Game start: 6:07 p.m. Game attendance: 87,973Game weather: SunnyReferee: Lee HedrickTV announcers (SECN ): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (color) and Cole Cubelic (sideline) [12]
Pregame line
Over/under
+7.0
47
Statistics
MSU
Texas A&M
First downs
27
15
Total yards
438
297
Rushing yards
30
162
Passing yards
408
135
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
35:06
24:54
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
46/59, 408 yards, 3 TD
Rushing
Dillon Johnson
6 carries, 19 yards
Receiving
Makai Polk
13 receptions, 126 yards, 2 TD
Texas A&M
Passing
Zach Calzada
12/20, 135 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Isaiah Spiller
16 carries, 100 yards
Receiving
Jalen Preston
2 receptions, 49 yards
No. 5 Alabama [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 5 Alabama
14
7 14 14
49
Mississippi State
3
3 3 0
9
Date: October 16Location: Starkville, MSGame start: 6:11 p.m. Game attendance: 53,796Game weather: 63, Sunny, Wind N @ 7 mphReferee: Matt LoefflerTV announcers (ESPN ): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Katie George (sideline) [14]
Pregame line
Over/under
+17.0
58
Statistics
Alabama
MSU
First downs
22
24
Total yards
543
299
Rushing yards
195
-1
Passing yards
348
300
Turnovers
0
3
Time of possession
29:53
30:07
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Alabama
Passing
Bryce Young
20/28, 348 yards, 4 TD
Rushing
Roydell Williams
11 carries, 78 yards
Receiving
John Metchie III
7 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
35/55, 300 yards, 3 INT
Rushing
Dillon Johnson
7 carries, 24 yards
Receiving
Jaden Walley
6 receptions, 64 yards
at Vanderbilt [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Mississippi State
10
14 7 14
45
Vanderbilt
0
3 3 0
6
Date: October 23Location: Nashville, TN Game start: 3:01 p.m. Game attendance: 22,036Game weather: SunnyReferee: Ken WilliamsonTV announcers (SECN ): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Alyssa Lang (sideline reporter) [16]
Pregame line
Over/under
-20.5
53
Statistics
MSU
Vanderbilt
First downs
29
5
Total yards
522
155
Rushing yards
61
9
Passing yards
461
146
Turnovers
2
1
Time of possession
39:02
20:58
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
41/57, 384 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
Dillon Johnson
7 carries, 34 yards
Receiving
Jaden Walley
5 receptions, 72 yards
Vanderbilt
Passing
Mike Wright
12/17, 122 yards, 1 INT
Rushing
Rocko Griffin
7 carries, 12 yards
Receiving
Devin Boddie Jr.
4 receptions, 69 yards
No. 12 Kentucky [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 12 Kentucky
7
3 0 7
17
• Mississippi State
0
14 17 0
31
Date: October 30Location: Starkville, MSGame start: 6:09 p.m. Game attendance: 49,487Game weather: 55, Cloudy, Wind NW @ 5 mphReferee: Lee HendrickTV announcers (SECN ): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline) [18]
Pregame line
Over/under
-1.0
47
Statistics
Kentucky
MSU
First downs
14
27
Total yards
216
438
Rushing yards
66
94
Passing yards
150
344
Turnovers
4
0
Time of possession
18:50
41:10
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Kentucky
Passing
Will Levis
17/28, 150 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing
Christopher Rodriguez
8 carries, 34 yards
Receiving
Wan’Dale Robinson
9 receptions, 79 yards
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
36/39, 344 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Jo’Quavious Marks
20 carries, 58 yards , 1 TD
Receiving
Jaden Walley
6 receptions, 95 yards
at Arkansas [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 17 Mississippi State
0
7 7 14
28
• Arkansas
10
3 3 15
31
Date: November 6Location: Fayetteville, AR Game start: 3:01 p.m. Game attendance: 68,818Game weather: 62, Sunny, Wind SW @ 4 mphReferee: Jason AutreyTV announcers (SECN ): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline) [20]
Pregame line
Over/under
+4.0
54
Statistics
MSU
Arkansas
First downs
28
23
Total yards
486
393
Rushing yards
69
202
Passing yards
417
191
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
32:14
27:46
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
36/48, 417 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Jo'quavious Marks
11 carries, 40 yards
Receiving
Makai Polk
8 receptions, 117 yards
Arkansas
Passing
KJ Jefferson
19/23, 191 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Dominique Johnson
17 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD
Receiving
Treylon Burks
6 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TD
at No. 17 Auburn [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Mississippi State
3
7 13 20
43
No. 17 Auburn
14
14 0 6
34
Date: November 13Location: Auburn, AL Game start: 11:07 a.m. Game attendance: 87,451Game weather: 55, Sunny, Wind NW @ 10 mphReferee: Steve MarloweTV announcers (ESPN ): Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Kris Budden (sideline reporter) [22]
Pregame line
Over/under
+5.5
51
Statistics
MSU
Auburn
First downs
31
22
Total yards
487
483
Rushing yards
72
106
Passing yards
415
377
Turnovers
0
1
Time of possession
35:01
24:59
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
44/55, 415 yards, 6 TD
Rushing
Dillon Johnson
8 carries, 62 yards
Receiving
Jaden Walley
7 receptions, 87 yards
Auburn
Passing
Bo Nix
27/41, 377 yards, 2 TD
Rushing
Ja'Varrius Johnson
1 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Kobe Hudson
8 receptions, 107 yards, 1 TD
Tennessee State [ ]
1
2 3 4 Total
Tennessee State
0
0 0 10
10
• No. 25 Mississippi State
21
14 14 6
55
Date: November 20Location: Starkville, MSGame start: 11:02 a.m. Game attendance: 46,770Game weather: 55, Sunny, Wind SE @ 8 mphReferee: Daniel GautreauxTV announcers (ESPN+ /SECN+): Mike Couzens (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst) [24]
Pregame line
Over/under
-44.0
56
Statistics
Tenn State
MSU
First downs
14
23
Total yards
205
600
Rushing yards
35
107
Passing yards
170
493
Turnovers
1
2
Time of possession
35:20
24:40
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Tennessee State
Passing
Deveon Bryant
9/11, 128 yards
Rushing
Devon Starling
11 carries, 33 yards
Receiving
Cam Wyche
4 receptions, 88 yards
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
28/34, 391 yards, 5 TD
Rushing
Dillon Johnson
5 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Makai Polk
9 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD
No. 9 Ole Miss [ ]
Egg Bowl
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 9 Ole Miss
3
7 7 14
31
Mississippi State
6
0 0 15
21
Date: November 25Location: Starkville, MSGame start: 6:33 p.m. TV announcers (ESPN ): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Katie George (sideline)
Pregame line
Over/under
-2.0
65
Statistics
Ole Miss
MSU
First downs
23
30
Total yards
388
420
Rushing yards
154
84
Passing yards
234
336
Turnovers
1
0
Time of possession
30:16
29:44
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Ole Miss
Passing
Matt Corral
26/34, 234 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Jerrion Ealy
16 carries, 60 yards
Receiving
Dontario Drummond
14 receptions, 138 yards
Mississippi State
Passing
Will Rogers
38/58, 336 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
Jo'quavious Marks
8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
Makai Polk
10 receptions, 98 yards
vs. Texas Tech [ ]
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
1
2 3 4 Total
Texas Tech
0
0 0 0
0
Mississippi State
0
0 0 0
0
Date: December 28Location: Memphis, TNTV announcers (ESPN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), Andraya Carter (sideline)
Statistics
TTU
MSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Texas Tech
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Mississippi State
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Rankings [ ]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Final
AP
NR
NR
NR
NR
NR
RV
RV
NR
NR
RV
NR
RV
RV
RV
RV
Coaches
RV
NR
RV
NR
NR
RV
RV
NR
NR
RV
NR
RV
RV
RV
RV
CFP
Not released
17
NR
25
NR
NR
NR
Not released
Statistics [ ]
Scoring [ ]
Scores by quarter (non-conference opponents) [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
All opponents
14
17
17
37
85
Mississippi State
45
35
21
42
143
Scores by quarter (SEC opponents) [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
SEC opponents
62
43
47
66
218
Mississippi State
32
55
61
80
228
Team statistics [ ]
Team Statistics
Opponents
Mississippi State
Total Points
303
371
Points per game
25.6
30.9
Rushing Yards per game
101
64
Passing Yards per game
230.1
385.8
References [ ]
^ "Football Coaches" . Mississippi State . Retrieved 2021-06-06 .
^ "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced" . SECSports.com . Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2020.
^ "2021 Mississippi State Football Schedule" . FBSchedule. Retrieved January 28, 2021 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-09-04). "How to watch Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Louisiana Tech football on TV, live stream" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-09-05 .
^ R.J. Morgan (2021-09-03). "Mississippi St. avoids La. Tech upset bid with 35-34 win" . Yahoo! News . Retrieved 2021-09-05 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-09-10). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. NC State football on TV, live stream plus game time" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-09-12 .
^ Theo Derosa (2021-09-12). "Griffin's kick return leads Mississippi St. over NC St" . The News & Observer . Retrieved 2021-09-12 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-09-17). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Memphis Tigers football on live stream, TV" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-09-19 .
^ Frank Bonner II (2021-09-18). "Tigers go down to the wire in thrilling win over Mississippi State" . The Daily Memphian . Retrieved 2021-09-19 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-09-23). "How to watch Mississippi State football vs. LSU Tigers on TV, live stream" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-09-27 .
^ "Johnson has 4 TD passes, LSU outlasts Mississippi St. 28-25" . WLOX . 2021-09-25. Retrieved 2021-09-27 .
^ Nick Gray (2021-10-02). "How to watch Mississippi State football vs. Texas A&M Aggies on TV, live stream" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-10-04 .
^ Zach Taylor (2021-10-03). "No. 15 Aggie Football Upset by Mississippi State" . WTAW (AM) . Retrieved 2021-10-04 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-10-15). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Alabama football on TV, live stream plus game time" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-10-15 .
^ David Cobb (2021-10-16). "Alabama vs. Mississippi State score, takeaways: No. 5 Tide demolish Bulldogs in get-right game" . CBS Sports . Retrieved 2021-10-18 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-10-22). "How to watch Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt football on TV, live stream" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-10-25 .
^ Aria Gerson (2021-10-23). "Vanderbilt football crushed by Mississippi State, 45-6" . The Tennessean . Retrieved 2021-10-25 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-10-29). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Kentucky football on TV and live stream" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-11-09 .
^ Gabriel Stovall (2021-10-30). "Kentucky vs. Mississippi State: The Wildcats fall to Bulldogs 31-17" . Louisville Courier Journal . Retrieved 2021-11-09 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-11-05). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Arkansas football on TV and live stream" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-11-09 .
^ Eric W. Bolin (2021-11-06). "Arkansas scores in final minute to beat Mississippi State" . Associated Press . Retrieved 2021-11-09 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-11-11). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Auburn football on TV, live stream" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-11-15 .
^ Tom Green (2021-11-13). "Auburn's defense surrenders 40 unanswered points in loss to Mississippi State" . AL.com . Retrieved 2021-11-15 .
^ Molly Weisner (2021-11-18). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Tennessee State football on live stream" . The Clarion-Ledger . Retrieved 2021-11-22 .
^ "Mississippi State dominates Tennessee State 55-10" . WLBT . 2021-11-20. Retrieved 2021-11-22 .
^ "Ole Miss defeats Mississippi State in 94th Egg Bowl" . WLBT . 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2021-11-26 .
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