2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

American college football season

2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs football

Armed Forces Bowl champion

Armed Forces Bowl, W 28–26 vs. Tulsa

Conference| Southeastern Conference
Division| Western Division
Record| 4–7 (3–7 SEC)
Head coach|

* Mike Leach (1st season)

Offensive scheme| Air raid
Defensive coordinator| Zach Arnett (1st season)
Base defense| 3–3–5
Home stadium| Davis Wade Stadium

Seasons

<- 2019

2021 ->

2020 Southeastern Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
Eastern Division
No. 13 Florida x  |  | 8  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 4  |
No. 7 Georgia |  | 7  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 2  |
Missouri |  | 5  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 5  |
Kentucky |  | 4  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  |
Tennessee*  |  | 3  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 7  |
South Carolina |  | 2  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 8  |
Vanderbilt |  | 0  | - | 9  |  |  |  |  | 0  | - | 9  |
Western Division
No. 1 Alabama x$#^  |  | 10  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 13  | - | 0  |
No. 4 Texas A&M |  | 8  | - | 1  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 1  |
Auburn |  | 6  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
LSU*  |  | 5  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 5  |
Ole Miss |  | 4  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 5  |
Arkansas |  | 3  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 7  |
Mississippi State |  | 3  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Championship: Alabama 52, Florida 46

* # - College Football Playoff champion
* ^ - College Football Playoff participant
* $ - Conference champion
* x - Division champion/co-champions
* * – Tennessee vacated all wins due to NCAA violations. LSU was ineligible for postseason due to self imposed ban.
Note: Due to COVID-19, the SEC played a conference-only schedule.

Rankings from AP Poll.

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

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September 26| 2:30 p.m.| at No. 6 LSU| |

* Tiger Stadium
* Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)

| CBS| W 44–34| 21,124
October 3| 6:30 p.m.| Arkansas| No. 16|

* Davis Wade Stadium
* Starkville, MS

| SECN Alt.| L 14–21| 13,564
October 10| 6:30 p.m.| at Kentucky| |

* Kroger Field
* Lexington, KY

| SECN| L 2–24| 12,000
October 17| 3:00 p.m.| No. 11 Texas A&M| |

* Davis Wade Stadium
* Starkville, MS

| ESPN| L 14–28| 13,142
October 31| 6:00 p.m.| at No. 2 Alabama| |

* Bryant–Denny Stadium
* Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)

| ESPN| L 0–41| 19,424
November 7| 2:30 p.m.| Vanderbilt| |

* Davis Wade Stadium
* Starkville, MS

| SECN| W 24–17| 12,888
November 21| 6:30 p.m.| at No. 13 Georgia| |

* Sanford Stadium
* Athens, GA

| SECN| L 24–31| 20,524
November 28| 3:00 p.m.| at Ole Miss| |

* Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
* Oxford, MS (Egg Bowl)

| SECN| L 24–31| 16,218
December 12[a]| 6:30 p.m.| Auburn| |

* Davis Wade Stadium
* Starkville, MS

| SECN| L 10–24| 12,986
December 19| 2:30 p.m.| Missouri| |

* Davis Wade Stadium
* Starkville, MS

| SECN Alt.| W 51–32| 11,748
December 31| 11:00 a.m.| vs. No. 24 Tulsa*| |

* Amon G. Carter Stadium
* Fort Worth, TX (Armed Forces Bowl)

| ESPN| W 28–26| 9,000

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings (after November 24) released prior to game
* All times are in Central time

^[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]

Further information: 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ 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]

See also: 2020 LSU Tigers football team

|  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Bulldogs | 3 | 14| 10| 17 | 44
No. 6 Tigers | 0 | 14| 10| 10 | 34

* Date: September 26
* Location: Baton Rouge, LA
* Game start: 2:30 p.m.
* Game attendance: 21,124
* Game weather: 85, Sunny, Wind NW @ 5 mph
* Referee: Jason Autrey
* TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (color), Jamie Erdahl (sideline)

* Sources:

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

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|
|

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 TD
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, 2 TD

### Arkansas

[edit]

See also: 2020 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Razorbacks | 7  | 7  | 7  | 0 | 21
No. 16 Bulldogs  | 7  | 0  | 7  | 0 | 14
Statistics | ARK | MSST

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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

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|
|

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]

See also: 2020 Kentucky Wildcats football team

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Bulldogs  | 0  | 0  | 2  | 0 | 2
Wildcats | 0  | 14  | 0  | 10 | 24
Statistics | MSST | UK

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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

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|
|

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]

See also: 2020 Texas A&M Aggies football team

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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No. 11 Aggies | 0  | 14  | 14  | 0 | 28
Bulldogs  | 0  | 0  | 7  | 7 | 14
Statistics | TAMU | MSST

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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

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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]

See also: 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry

|  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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Bulldogs | 0 | 0| 0| 0 | 0
• No. 2 Crimson Tide | 17 | 10| 0| 14 | 41

* Date: October 31
* Location: Bryant–Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AL
* Game start: 6:05 p.m.
* Game attendance: 19,424
* Game weather: 66, Partly cloudy skies, Wind ESE @ 6 mph
* Referee: Jason Autrey
* TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (color), Todd McShay and Molly McGrath (sideline)

* Sources:

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

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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]

See also: 2020 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Commodores  | 0  | 0  | 7  | 10 | 17
Bulldogs | 14  | 3  | 0  | 7 | 24
Statistics | VAN | MSST

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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

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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]

See also: 2020 Georgia Bulldogs football team

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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Bulldogs  | 3  | 14  | 7  | 0 | 24
No. 13 Bulldogs | 0  | 17  | 7  | 7 | 31

Statistics

Statistics | MSST | UGA

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|

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

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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]

See also: 2020 Ole Miss Rebels football team and Egg Bowl

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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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

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|

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

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|
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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

### Auburn

[edit]

See also: 2020 Auburn Tigers football team

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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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

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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]

See also: 2020 Missouri Tigers football team

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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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

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|
|

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]

See also: 2020 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

Main article: 2020 Armed Forces Bowl (December)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total

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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

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|
|

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]

See also: 2021 NFL draft

Round  | Pick  | Player  | Position  | NFL Club

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|
|

7 | 253 | Marquiss Spencer | DE | Denver Broncos
7 | 256 | Kylin Hill | RB | Green Bay Packers

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "DI Council approves football bowl eligibility requirements waiver". NCAA.org (Press release). October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
2. ^ "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced". SECSports.com. Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2020.
3. ^ "2020 Football Schedule Announced". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. August 7, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
4. ^ Talty, John (July 30, 2020). "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
5. ^ Visser, David (July 21, 2020). "SWAC Suspends Fall Football Season". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
6. ^ Dellenger, Ross. "Sources: SEC Adopts Conference-Only Schedule With Sept. 26 Start". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
7. ^ "2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 11, 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Mississippi State Bulldogs football

Venues|

* Davis Wade Stadium (1914–present)
* Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium (alternate, 1953–1990)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Alabama
* LSU
* Ole Miss: Egg Bowl

Culture & lore|

* Bully
* "Hail State"
* Famous Maroon Band

People|

* Head coaches
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1895
* 1896
* 1897–1900
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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf.]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[No.]: Number