# 2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

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.
| Name | Position |
| Mike Leach | Head coach |
| Tony Hughes | Associate head coach & Nickelbacks Coach |
| Zach Arnett | Defensive coordinator & Linebackers coach |
| Matt Brock | Special teams coordinator & Outside Linebackers Coach |
| Darcel McBath | Cornerbacks coach |
| Eric Mele | Running backs coach |
| Mason Miller | Offensive line coach |
| Dave Nichol | Inside receivers coach |
| Jeff Phelps | Defensive line coach |
| Steve Spurrier Jr. | Outside receivers coach |
| Jason Washington | Safeties coach |
| Tyson Brown | Head strength and conditioning coach |

## SEC Media Days

In the preseason media poll, Mississippi State was predicted to finish last in the West Division.
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 |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 3:00 p.m. | Louisiana Tech* | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPNU | W 35–34 | 44,669 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | NC State* | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPN2 | W 24–10 | 45,834 |
| September 18 | 3:00 p.m. | at Memphis* | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN | ESPN2 | L 29–31 | 43,461 |
| September 25 | 11:00 a.m. | LSU | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS (rivalry) | ESPN | L 25–28 | 50,298 |
| October 2 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 15 Texas A&M | | Kyle FieldCollege Station, TX | SECN | W 26–22 | 87,973 |
| October 16 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 5 Alabama | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS (rivalry) | ESPN | L 9–49 | 53,796 |
| October 23 | 3:00 p.m. | at Vanderbilt | | Vanderbilt StadiumNashville, TN | SECN | W 45–6 | 22,036 |
| October 30 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 12 Kentucky | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | SECN | W 31–17 | 49,487 |
| November 6 | 3:00 p.m. | at Arkansas | No. 17 | Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR | SECN | L 28–31 | 68,818 |
| November 13 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 17 Auburn | | Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL | ESPN | W 43–34 | 87,451 |
| November 20 | 11:00 a.m. | Tennessee State* | No. 25 | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS | ESPN+/SECN+ | W 55–10 | 46,770 |
| November 25 | 6:30 p.m. | No. 9 Ole Miss | | Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS (Egg Bowl) | ESPN | L 21–31 | 55,601 |
| December 28 | 5:45 p.m. | vs. Texas Tech* | | Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN (Liberty Bowl) | ESPN | L 7–34 | 48,615 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 2) - Released prior to gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Louisiana Tech | 7 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 34 |
| • Mississippi State | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 35 |
| 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 |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Austin Kendall | 5 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Bub Means | 2 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 39/47, 370 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 12 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD’S |
| Mississippi State | 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 |
| 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 |
| NC State | Rushing | Zonovan Knight | 8 carries, 31 yards |
| NC State | Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 6 receptions, 92 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 33/49, 294 yards, 2 TD's |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 6 carries, 18 yards |
| Mississippi State | 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 |
| 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Makai Polk | 11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD |
| Memphis | Passing | Seth Henigan | 16/28, 159 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Memphis | Rushing | Brandon Thomas | 16 carries, 86 yards |
| Memphis | Receiving | Calvin Austin | 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 |
| 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 |
| LSU | Rushing | Tyrion Davis-Price | 13 carries, 51 yards |
| LSU | Receiving | Kayshon Boutte | 4 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 47/62, 371 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 8 carries, 51 yards |
| Mississippi State | 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 |
| 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 6 carries, 19 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Makai Polk | 13 receptions, 126 yards, 2 TD |
| Texas A&M | Passing | Zach Calzada | 12/20, 135 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Texas A&M | Rushing | Isaiah Spiller | 16 carries, 100 yards |
| Texas A&M | 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 |
| 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 |
| Alabama | Rushing | Roydell Williams | 11 carries, 78 yards |
| Alabama | Receiving | John Metchie III | 7 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 35/55, 300 yards, 3 INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 7 carries, 24 yards |
| Mississippi State | 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 |
| 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 7 carries, 34 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Jaden Walley | 5 receptions, 72 yards |
| Vanderbilt | Passing | Mike Wright | 12/17, 122 yards, 1 INT |
| Vanderbilt | Rushing | Rocko Griffin | 7 carries, 12 yards |
| Vanderbilt | 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 |
| 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 |
| Kentucky | Rushing | Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 8 carries, 34 yards |
| Kentucky | Receiving | Wan'Dale Robinson | 9 receptions, 79 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 36/39, 344 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo’Quavious Marks | 20 carries, 58 yards , 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | 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 |
| 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 11 carries, 40 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Makai Polk | 8 receptions, 117 yards |
| Arkansas | Passing | KJ Jefferson | 19/23, 191 yards, 1 TD |
| Arkansas | Rushing | Dominique Johnson | 17 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD |
| Arkansas | 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 |
| 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 |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 8 carries, 62 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Jaden Walley | 7 receptions, 87 yards |
| Auburn | Passing | Bo Nix | 27/41, 377 yards, 2 TD |
| Auburn | Rushing | Ja'Varrius Johnson | 1 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD |
| Auburn | 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 |
| 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 |
| Tennessee State | Rushing | Devon Starling | 11 carries, 33 yards |
| Tennessee State | Receiving | Cam Wyche | 4 receptions, 88 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 28/34, 391 yards, 5 TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 5 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Makai Polk | 9 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD |

### No. 9 Ole Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 9 Ole Miss | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Mississippi State | 6 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 21 |
| 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 |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Jerrion Ealy | 16 carries, 60 yards |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Dontario Drummond | 14 receptions, 138 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 38/58, 336 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Makai Polk | 10 receptions, 98 yards |

### Vs. Texas Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Texas Tech | 10 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 34 |
| Mississippi State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| -10.0 | 58 |
| Statistics | TTU | MSU |
| First downs | 24 | 21 |
| Total yards | 512 | 344 |
| Rushing yards | 260 | 54 |
| Passing yards | 252 | 290 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:57 | 28:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas Tech | Passing | Donovan Smith | 15/28, 252 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas Tech | Rushing | Tahj Brooks | 16 rushes, 107 yards, 1 TD |
| Texas Tech | Receiving | Myles Price | 3 receptions, 72 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 32/53, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Dillon Johnson | 9 rushes, 62 yards |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Austin Williams | 5 receptions, 74 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 |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | — | — | RV | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | — |
| Coaches | RV | — | RV | — | — | RV | RV | — | — | RV | — | RV | RV | RV | RV | — |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 17 | — | 25 | — | — | — | 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 |

## Players drafted into the NFL

Mississippi State had two players selected in the 2022 NFL draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 1 | 9 | Charles Cross | OT | Seattle Seahawks |
| 3 | 68 | Martin Emerson | CB | Cleveland Browns |