# 2020 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

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, 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

In the preseason media poll, Mississippi State was predicted to finish in a tie for fifth place in the West Division.
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

Mississippi State announced its 2020 football schedule on August 7, 2019. 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.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 26 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 6 LSU | | Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, LA (rivalry) | CBS | W 44–34 | 21,124 |
| October 3 | 6:30 p.m. | Arkansas | No. 16 | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | SECN Alt. | L 14–21 | 13,564 |
| October 10 | 6:30 p.m. | at Kentucky | | Kroger FieldLexington, KY | SECN | L 2–24 | 12,000 |
| October 17 | 3:00 p.m. | No. 11 Texas A&M | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPN | L 14–28 | 13,142 |
| October 31 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 2 Alabama | | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL (rivalry) | ESPN | L 0–41 | 19,424 |
| November 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Vanderbilt | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | SECN | W 24–17 | 12,888 |
| November 21 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 13 Georgia | | Sanford StadiumAthens, GA | SECN | L 24–31 | 20,524 |
| November 28 | 3:00 p.m. | at Ole Miss | | Vaught–Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS (Egg Bowl) | SECN | L 24–31 | 16,218 |
| December 12 | 6:30 p.m. | Auburn | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | SECN | L 10–24 | 12,986 |
| December 19 | 2:30 p.m. | Missouri | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | SECN Alt. | W 51–32 | 11,748 |
| December 31 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. No. 24 Tulsa* | | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX (Armed Forces Bowl) | ESPN | W 28–26 | 9,000 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings (after November 24) released prior to gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||
    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:

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | 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 | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | Not released |

## Game summaries
### At No. 6 LSU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bulldogs | 3 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 44 |
| No. 6 Tigers | 0 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 34 |
| 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Kylin Hill | 7 carries, 34 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Osirus Mitchell | 7 receptions, 183 yards, 2 TD |
| LSU | Passing | Myles Brennan | 27/46, 345 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| LSU | Rushing | Chris Curry | 9 carries, 47 yards |
| LSU | Receiving | Terrace Marshall Jr. | 8 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD |

### Arkansas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Razorbacks | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| No. 16 Bulldogs | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| 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 |
| Arkansas | Rushing | Trelon Smith | 14 rushes, 48 yards |
| Arkansas | Receiving | De'Vion Warren | 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | K. J. Costello | 43/59, 313 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 9 rushes, 39 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Osirus Mitchell | 5 receptions, 61 yards |

### At Kentucky

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Wildcats | 0 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
| 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Kylin Hill | 7 rushes, 17 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Kylin Hill | 15 receptions, 79 yards |
| Kentucky | Passing | Terry Wilson | 8/20, 73 yards, TD |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Terry Wilson | 13 rushes, 50 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Josh Ali | 2 receptions, 22 yards |

### No. 11 Texas A&M

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 11 Aggies | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| 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 |
| Texas A&M | Rushing | Isaiah Spiller | 18 rushes, 114 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas A&M | Receiving | Chase Lane | 2 receptions, 70 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 15/18, 120 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 7 rushes, 25 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Malik Heath | 5 receptions, 57 yards, TD |

### At No. 2 Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • No. 2 Crimson Tide | 17 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 41 |
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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 9 rushes, 32 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Jo'Quavious Marks | 8 receptions, 38 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Mac Jones | 24/31, 291 yards, 4 TD |
| Alabama | Rushing | Najee Harris | 21 rushes, 119 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | DeVonta Smith | 11 receptions, 203 yards, 4 TD |

### Vanderbilt

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Commodores | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
| Bulldogs | 14 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| 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 |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Keyon Henry-Brooks | 20 rushes, 115 yards, TD |
| Vanderbilt | Receiving | Cam Johnson | 10 receptions, 114 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 35/46, 226 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 6 rushes, 10 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Malik Heath | 9 receptions, 79 yards |

### At No. 13 Georgia

| | 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 8 rushes, 19 yards, 2 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Jaden Walley | 7 receptions, 115 yards, TD |
| Georgia | Passing | J. T. Daniels | 28–38, 401 yards, 4 TD |
| Georgia | Rushing | Zamir White | 11 rushes, 21 yards |
| Georgia | Receiving | Jermaine Burton | 8 receptions, 197 yards, 2 TD |

### At Ole Miss

| | 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Will Rogers | 4 rushes, 26 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Jaden Walley | 9 receptions, 176 yards |
| Ole Miss | Passing | Matt Corral | 24–36, 385 yards, 2 TD |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Jerrion Ealy | 18 rushes, 93 yards, TD |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Elijah Moore | 12 receptions, 139 yards |

### Auburn

| | 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 |
| Auburn | Rushing | Tank Bigsby | 26 rushes, 192 yards |
| Auburn | Receiving | Seth Williams | 3 receptions, 57 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 30–51, 221 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 5 rushes, 30 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Jaden Walley | 8 receptions, 100 yards |

### Missouri

| | 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 |
| Missouri | Rushing | Larry Rountree III | 25 rushes, 121 yards, 2 TD |
| Missouri | Receiving | Keke Chism | 6 receptions, 64 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 21–36, 295 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 12 rushes, 70 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Jaden Walley | 5 receptions, 129 yards, TD |

### Vs. No. 24 Tulsa (Armed Forces Bowl)

| | 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 |
| Tulsa | Rushing | Corey Taylor II | 20 rushes, 80 yards, TD |
| Tulsa | Receiving | Keylon Stokes | 9 receptions, 117 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 19–30, 148 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 11 rushes, 72 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Austin Williams | 3 receptions, 42 yards |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 7 | 253 | Marquiss Spencer | DE | Denver Broncos |
| 7 | 256 | Kylin Hill | RB | Green Bay Packers |