# 2019 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

The 2019 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2019 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 Joe Moorhead. Following the team's loss in the Music City Bowl Moorhead was fired as the Bulldogs' head coach.

## Preseason
### SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on July 19, 2019 with the Bulldogs predicted to finish in fifth place in the West Division.
Media poll (Western) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Alabama | 1,813 (253) |
| 2 | LSU | 1,493 (5) |
| 3 | Texas A&M | 1,268 |
| 4 | Auburn | 1,090 (1) |
| 5 | Mississippi State | 769 (1) |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 504 |
| 7 | Arkansas | 343 |
Media poll (SEC Championship) :
| Rank | Team | Votes |
| 1 | Alabama | 209 |
| 2 | Georgia | 49 |
| 3 | LSU | 3 |
| 4 | Auburn | 1 |
| 4 | Florida | 1 |
| 4 | Mississippi State | 1 |
| 4 | South Carolina | 1 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 1 |

### Preseason All-SEC teams

To be released

## Schedule

Mississippi State announced its 2019 football schedule on September 18, 2018. The 2019 schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. Louisiana* | Mercedes-Benz SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA | ESPNU | W 38–28 | 22,440 |
| September 7 | 2:30 p.m. | Southern Miss* | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPNU | W 38–15 | 55,143 |
| September 14 | 11:00 a.m. | Kansas State* | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPN | L 24–31 | 54,522 |
| September 21 | 3:00 p.m. | Kentucky | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | SECN | W 28–13 | 54,556 |
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 7 Auburn | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL (SEC Nation) | ESPN | L 23–56 | 87,451 |
| October 12 | 11:00 a.m. | at Tennessee | Neyland StadiumKnoxville, TN | SECN | L 10–20 | 85,462 |
| October 19 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 2 LSU | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS (rivalry / SEC Nation) | CBS | L 13–36 | 59,282 |
| October 26 | 11:00 a.m. | at Texas A&M | Kyle FieldCollege Station, TX | SECN | L 30–49 | 102,025 |
| November 2 | 3:00 p.m. | at Arkansas | Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR | SECN | W 54–24 | 52,256 |
| November 16 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 5 Alabama | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS (rivalry) | ESPN | L 7–38 | 57,607 |
| November 23 | 6:30 p.m. | Abilene Christian* | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | SECN Alt. | W 45–7 | 54,683 |
| November 28 | 6:30 p.m. | Ole Miss | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS (Egg Bowl) | ESPN | W 21–20 | 57,529 |
| December 30 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. Louisville* | Nissan StadiumNashville, TN (Music City Bowl) | ESPN | L 28–38 | 46,850 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 5 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

Staff from 2019.
| Name | Position |
| Joe Moorhead | Head coach |
| Mark Hudspeth | Associate head coach & Tight Ends coach |
| Terry Richardson | Assistant head coach, Run Game Coordinator, & Running Backs coach |
| Deke Adams | Defensive line coach |
| Andrew Breiner | Pass game coordinator & quarterbacks coach |
| Terrell Buckley | Cornerbacks coach |
| Luke Getsy | Offensive coordinator* & wide receivers coach |
| Marcus Johnson | Offensive line coach |
| Joey Jones | Special teams coordinator |
| Tem Lukabu | Linebackers coach |
| Bob Shoop | Defensive coordinator & Safeties coach |
| Anthony Piroli | Head strength and conditioning coach |
| Andrew Warsaw | Director of football operations |
| Billy Fessler | Graduate assistant – offense |

## Game summaries
### Vs. Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
| Ragin' Cajuns | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Mississippi State | -18.5 |
| Statistics | Mississippi State | Louisiana |
| First downs | 29 | 27 |
| Total yards | 497 | 430 |
| Rushing yards | 261 | 163 |
| Passing yards | 236 | 267 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 30:37 | 29:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Tommy Stevens | 20–30, 236 yards, 2 TDs |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Kylin Hill | 27 carries, 197 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Osirus Mitchell | 6 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 24–39, 267 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Raymond Calais | 8 carries, 80 yards |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Jamal Bell | 8 receptions, 113 yards |

### Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 38 |

### Kansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 3 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
Mississippi State led in almost every statistical category: more first downs (21–17); more total yards (352–269), more yards rushing (201–146), and more yards passing (151–123). Both teams committed 3 turnovers and 7 penalties and Mississippi State controlled the game clock, holding possession for 33:05 to K-States 26:55.
Solid statistical production wasn't enough, as Kansas State ended up winning the game 31–24.

### Kentucky

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |

### At Auburn

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mississippi State | 6 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
| No. 7 Auburn | 21 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 56 |
at Jordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, Alabama
* Date: September 28, 2019
* Game time: 6:10 p.m.
* Game weather: Temperature: 90° • Wind: NE 5 mph • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 87,451
* Referee: James Carter
* TV announcers (ESPN): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter)
Game information :
First Quarter
AUB – Ja'Tarvious Whitlow 30 yd run (Anders Carlson kick), 12:55 (AUB 7–0)
AUB – Bo Nix 9 yd run (Anders Carlson kick), 9:46 (AUB 14–0)
AUB – Anthony Schwartz 13 yd run (Anders Carlson kick), 8:59 (AUB 21–0)
MSU – Stephen Guidry 9 yd pass from Garrett Shrader (Jace Christmann kick failed), 2:20 (AUB 21–6)
Second Quarter
AUB – Ja'Tarvious Whitlow 3 yd run (Anders Carlson kick), 13:18 (AUB 28–6)
MSU – Jace Christmann 27 yd field goal, 7:55 (AUB 28–9)
AUB – Seth Williams 39 yd pass from Bo Nix (Anders Carlson kick), 5:33 (AUB 35–9)
AUB – Ja'Tarvious Whitlow 3 yd run (Anders Carlson kick), 0:12 (AUB 42–9)
Third Quarter
AUB – Seth Williams 32 yd pass from Bo Nix (Anders Carlson kick), 13:28 (AUB 49–9)
MSU – Osirus Mitchell 21 yd pass from Garrett Shrader (Jace Christmann kick), 2:13 (AUB 49–16)
Fourth Quarter
AUB – Kam Martin 7 yd run (Anders Carlson kick), 14:16 (AUB 56–16)
MSU – Garrett Shrader 7 yd run (Jace Christmann kick), 0:50 (AUB 56–23)
Top Passers
MSU – Garrett Shrader 12–23, 209 yds, 2 TD
AUB – Bo Nix 16–21, 335 yds, 2 TD
Top Rushers
MSU – Garrett Shrader 16 rushes, 89 yds, 1 TD
AUB – Bo Nix 7 rushes, 56 yds, 1 TD
Top Receivers
MSU – Farrod Green 3 receptions, 69 yds
AUB – Seth Williams 8 receptions, 161 yds, 2 TD :

### At Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Volunteers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 20 |

### LSU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Tigers | 3 | 19 | 14 | 0 | 36 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
at Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
* Game attendance: 59,282
* TV announcers (CBS): Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson and Jamie Erdahl
Game information :
First quarter
LSU – Cade York 20-yard field goal, 7:52. Tigers 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 42 yards, 4:17.
Second quarter
LSU – Cade York 23-yard field goal, 12:27. Tigers 6–0. Drive: 10 plays, 84 yards, 3:35.
LSU – Cade York 25-yard field goal, 8:33. Tigers 9–0. Drive: 6 plays, 37 yards, 3:04.
MSST – Garrett Shrader 12-yard run (Jace Christmann kick), 5:24. Tigers 9–7. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:09.
LSU – Racey McMath 60-yard pass from Joe Burrow (kick failed), 5:07. Tigers 15–7. Drive: 1 play, 60 yards, 0:17.
LSU – Ja'Marr Chase 8-yard pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York kick), 0:50. Tigers 22–7. Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 1:03.
Third quarter
LSU – Derrick Dillon 37-yard pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York kick), 10:36. Tigers 29–7. Drive: 4 plays, 66 yards, 1:27.
LSU – Justin Jefferson 18-yard pass from Joe Burrow (Cade York kick), 5:36. Tigers 36–7. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:52.
Fourth quarter
MSST – Stephen Guidry 24-yard pass from Garrett Shrader (pass failed), 0:59. Tigers 36–13. Drive: 7 plays, 90 yards, 2:42.
Top passers
LSU – Joe Burrow – 25/32, 327 yards, 4 TD
MSST – Garrett Shrader – 17/28, 238 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
LSU – Clyde Edwards-Helaire – 11 rushes, 53 yards
MSST – Garrett Shrader – 19 rushes, 66 yards, TD
Top receivers
LSU – Justin Jefferson – 8 receptions, 89 yards, TD
MSST – Stephen Guidry – 6 receptions, 98 yards, TD :

### At Texas A&M

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 30 |
| Aggies | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Mississippi State | Texas A&M |
| First downs | 22 | 24 |
| Total yards | 433 | 441 |
| Rushing yards | 239 | 207 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 234 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:12 | 31:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Garrett Shrader | 13–30, 194 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Kylin Hill | 21 carries, 150 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Stephen Guidry | 2 receptions, 59 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M | Passing | Kellen Mond | 17–23, 234 yards, 3 TD |
| Texas A&M | Rushing | Isaiah Spiller | 22 carries, 90 yards, TD |
| Texas A&M | Receiving | Jalen Wydermyer | 2 receptions, 63 yards, TD |

### At Arkansas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 14 | 24 | 7 | 9 | 54 |
| Razorbacks | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, Arkansas
* Date: Saturday, November 2, 2019
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 53 °F (12 °C) • Wind: NNW 9 mph
* Game attendance: 52,256
* Referee: Matt Loeffler
* TV announcers (SEC Network): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (color), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
* Pregame line: Mississippi State −7 • Odds to win: Mississippi State 74.1%
| Statistics | MSST | ARK |
| First downs | 27 | 10 |
| Total yards | 640 | 285 |
| Rushes–yards | 57–460 | 25–184 |
| Passing yards | 180 | 101 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 13–19–0 | 9–24–1 |
| Time of possession | 40:09 | 19:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Tommy Stevens | 12/18, 172 yards, 2 TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Kylin Hill | 21 carries, 234 yards, 3 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Deddrick Thomas | 2 receptions, 59 yards |
| Arkansas | Passing | Ben Hicks | 4/13, 44 yards, 1 INT |
| Arkansas | Rushing | Rakeem Boyd | 11 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas | Receiving | Treylon Burks | 1 reception, 32 yards |

### Alabama

| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 21 | 62 |
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 5 Alabama | 21 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 38 |
| Mississippi State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Alabama | Mississippi State |
| First downs | 24 | 11 |
| Total yards | 510 | 270 |
| Rushing yards | 160 | 188 |
| Passing yards | 350 | 82 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:57 | 32:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Alabama | Passing | Tua Tagovailoa | 14–18, 256 yards, 2 TDs |
| Alabama | Rushing | Najee Harris | 17 carries, 88 yards, 3 TDs |
| Alabama | Receiving | Jerry Jeudy | 7 receptions, 114 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Tommy Stevens | 12–21, 82 yards, 1 INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Tommy Stevens | 10 carries, 96 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Farrod Green | 1 reception, 30 yards |

### Abilene Christian

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 45 |

### Ole Miss

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rebels | 0 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS
* Date: Thursday, November 28, 2019
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
* Game weather: • Temperature:
* TV: ESPN
* Pregame line: Mississippi State −1.5
| Statistics | MISS | MSST |
| First downs | 23 | 15 |
| Total yards | 381 | 318 |
| Rushes/yards | 47/136 | 44/210 |
| Passing yards | 245 | 108 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–26–1 | 10–14–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:31 | 31:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ole Miss | Passing | Matt Corral | 6/12, 124 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Jerrion Ealy | 15 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Braylon Sanders | 2 receptions, 88 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Garrett Shrader | 10/14, 108 yards |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Kylin Hill | 27 carries, 132 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Deddrick Thomas | 4 receptions, 49 yards |

### vs Louisville (Music City Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mississippi State | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| Louisville | 0 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee
* Date: Monday, December 30, 2019
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. CST)
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 53 °F (12 °C) • Wind: SW 12 mph
* Game attendance: 46,850
* Referee: Mark Duddy
* TV announcers (ESPN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline)
* ESPN game summary

### Statistics

| Statistics | MSST | UL |
| First downs | 24 | 23 |
| Plays–yards | 62–366 | 69–510 |
| Rushes–yards | 36–145 | 44–198 |
| Passing yards | 221 | 312 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 17–26–0 | 17–25–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:26 | 31:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Tommy Stevens | 17/26, 221 yards, 2 TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Tommy Stevens | 17 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Stephen Guidry | 6 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisville | Passing | Malik Cunningham | 16/23, 279 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisville | Rushing | Javian Hawkins | 23 carries, 105 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisville | Receiving | Tutu Atwell | 9 receptions, 147 yards |

## 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 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Coaches | RV | RV | 23 | RV | RV | 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 |

## Players drafted into the NFL

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 2 | 63 | Willie Gay | ILB | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 3 | 89 | Cameron Dantzler | CB | Minnesota Vikings |
| 3 | 106 | Tyre Phillips | OT | Baltimore Ravens |
| 7 | 240 | Tommy Stevens | QB | New Orleans Saints |
| 7 | 249 | Brian Cole II | S | Minnesota Vikings |
Source: