Mississippi State paid homage to former Bulldog Coach Mike Leach and scored 16 points in the fourth quarter -10 in the final four seconds - to come from behind and beat Illinois, 19-10, Monday in last second nail-biter in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa.
The Bulldogs were down 10-3 at the end of the third quarter. It was an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Will Rogers to Justin Robinson six-seconds into the fourth quarter that tied the game. A 27-yard field goal by Massimo Biscardi put MSU on top with four seconds to go in the game.
But it was a game-ending 60-yard fumble recovery by Bulldog cornerback Marcus Banks with time expiring that all Bulldogs will forever remember.
Massimo Biscardi had kicked a 55-yard field goal in the second quarter in the low scoring affair.
The win sends No. 22 Mississippi State to 9-4 on the year and a probable step-up in the national polls this season.
Today marked Mississippi State's 26th bowl appearance in program history and extended the team's program-record streak to 13 consecutive years of reaching the postseason.
State now holds a 15-11 record all-time and an 8-5 record during its streak.
Today's combined 29 points marked the lowest-scoring ReliQuest Bowl in the event's history.
With the win, Arnett becomes the 17th MSU head coach to win in his collegiate head coaching debut (Dan Mullen, 2009; Sylvester Croom, 2004; Rockey Felker, 1986; Darrell K Royal, 1954; Spike Nelson, 1938; Ross McKechnie, 1933; Ray Dauber, 1932; J.W. Hancock, 1927; Bernie Bierman, 1925; Earl Able, 1923; Fred Holtkamp, 1920; Sid Robinson, 1917; E.C. Hayes, 1914; W.D. Chadwick, 1909; Fred Furman, 1907; Dan Martin, 1903).
OFFENSE
• State scored on 40-of-45 (88.9 percent) red zone opportunities this season, which ranks second in program history.
• School Record (since 2001): 90.5 percent [48-of-53] (2015).
• The Bulldogs scored 33 touchdowns in the red zone.
• WR Lideatrick Griffin (510) became the second 500-yard receiver for the Bulldogs this season, which gives MSU multiple 500-yard receivers for just the seventh time in school history and the third straight season.
• Griffin totaled 53 yards today.
• WR Rufus Harvey finished the year with 499 receiving yards.
DEFENSE
• MSU now has a takeaway in 30 of its 37 games since head coach Zach Arnett arrived as defensive coordinator in 2020.
• The Bulldogs have 57 total takeaways in that span, which trails only Alabama (59) and South Carolina (58) in the SEC.
• CB Marcus Banks recovered a fumbled lateral and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown as time expired.
• LBs Jett Johnson (114) and Nathaniel Watson (113) are the only pair of Power 5 teammates to finish 1-2 in their respective conference in tackles.
They are one of three Power 5 duos to both have 100-plus tackles this season. (Cedric Gray and Power Echols, North Carolina; Cal Haladay and Kendell Brooks, Michigan State).
• State recorded 7.0 sacks as a team, by seven different players, which stands as its highest total of the season and an MSU bowl game record.
• Since 2000, State has recorded 7.0 sacks in a game two other times (at Kentucky, Oct. 25, 2014; at LSU, Sept. 26, 2020).
• Previous MSU Bowl Record: 6, 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
RB Jo'quavious Marks
• Broke Fred Ross' (2013-15) school record by extending his streak to 36 games with a reception, which includes every game of his career.
• Boasts the second-longest streak in the SEC and is one of just two players in the league with catches in 30 or more consecutive games.
• Now second in school history with 191 career receptions.
• School record: 199, Fred Ross (2013-16).
RB Simeon Price
• Broke a season-long 28-yard run to the 2-yard line with 12 seconds to play.
• Finished with a career-high 68 rushing yards on seven carries (9.7 average).
WR Justin Robinson
• Named the MVP of the ReliaQuest Bowl.
• Caught a career-high seven passes for a career-best 81 yards.
• Scored on an 8-yard reception on fourth down.
• Also hauled in a career-long 25-yard reception.
QB Will Rogers
• Threw for 261 yards with a touchdown while completing 29 passes.
• Passed for 200 yards for an MSU-record 31st time in his career.
• Finished the 2022 season, one passing touchdown shy of his own MSU single-season passing touchdown record (38, 2021).
• Rogers has thrown at least one touchdown in 31 of his last 33 games.
• Holds the SEC career record with 1,159 completions.
• Holds MSU career records with 10,649 career passing yards and 82 career passing touchdowns.
• Passing yards rank (eighth entering) in SEC history.
• No. 7: 10,875, Danny Wuerffel, Florida (1993-96).
• Has now recorded 10,386 career total offense yards, which ranks second in MSU history.
• School Record: 11,897, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
• Finished the season with a 68.0 percent completion percentage (415-of-610), which ranks third in MSU history.
• Collected 3,974 passing yards this season, which ranks second in MSU history.
• Caught a 13-yard pass for his first career reception.
WR Jaden Walley
• Ranks 10th in MSU career history with 1,694 receiving yards.
• No. 9: 1,724, Terrell Grindle (1999-02).
• Now tied for eighth in school history with 141 career receptions with Justin Jenkins (2000-03).
• No. 7: 146, Sammy Milner (1968-70).
• Completed his first career pass for a 13-yard gain.
• Also had a pass attempt in 2021.
WR Austin Williams
• Now fifth in school history with 150 career receptions.
• No. 4: 159, Chad Bumphis (2009-12).
• Has now played in a school-record 63 career games with 39 career starts.
CB Marcus Banks
• Returned a fumbled lateral 60 yards for his first career touchdown.
• It was his first career fumble recovery.
DE Randy Charlton
• Recorded his first career pass breakup on third down of Illinois' opening drive to force a punt.
• Also registered a third-down sack in the first quarter.
• Now has a single-season career-high 7.0 tackles for loss.
DT Jaden Crumedy
• Recorded a sack for a loss of two yards in the third quarter.
• Now has 12.0 career tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.
CB Emmanuel Forbes
• Broke up his 10th pass of the season, which is a single-season career high and tied for ninth-most by a Bulldog since 2001.
LB Jett Johnson
• Recorded 11 tackles to lead MSU for the seventh time this season.
• Now has eight career double-digit-tackle games, which is the 10th-most by a Bulldog since 1988.
• Finished the season leading the SEC with 114 tackles.
• Also recorded a sack for a loss of 10 yards in the fourth quarter.
• Finished with 1.5 tackles for loss.
LB Sherman Timbs
• Registered his third career sack for a loss of two yards.
• Finished with a career-high-tying 2.0 tackles for loss.
LB Nathaniel Watson
• Finished the season trailing only teammate Jett Johnson for the SEC lead with 112 tackles.
• Picked up a 3-yard sack on third down to force a punt.
• Now has a single-season career-high 6.0 sacks and 11.0 for his career.
DT Cameron Young
• Recorded his second career sack in the fourth quarter.
K Massimo Biscardi
• Made a game-winning 27-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock.
• Also made a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter.
GENERAL
• State played in the ReliaQuest Bowl, formerly known as the Outback Bowl, for the second time in school history (2019 vs. Iowa).
• The SEC is now 13-8 against the Big Ten in the ReliaQuest Bowl since 2003 and 19-11 in the 30 matchups between the two conferences.
