Football Finishes 2018 Season Ranked in Final Coaches Poll
January 08, 2019 | Football
by Brandon Langlois, Associate Directory/Communications
STARKVILLE – For the seventh time in school history, Mississippi State finished the season ranked in the final Amway Coaches Poll as the Bulldogs checked in at No. 25 on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs closed out the year ranked 12 out of 16 weeks in the poll, including each of the last seven. Tuesday's ranking marked the second straight year MSU finished the season ranked in the final poll. State is one of seven schools in the SEC in the final poll, joining No. 2 Alabama, No. 6 Florida, No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Georgia, No. 11 Kentucky and No. 16 Texas A&M.
MSU In The Final Amway Coaches Poll Rankings
1994 — 25th
1999 — 12th
2000 — 22nd
2010 — 17th
2014 — 12th
2017 — 20th
2018 — 25th
The Bulldogs wrapped up the season with an 8-5 overall record, including a 4-4 mark in SEC play. State fell to Iowa, 27-22, in the Outback Bowl, which was the Bulldogs' school-record ninth straight bowl appearance. MSU is one of five SEC teams that has been to a bowl every season this decade (Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M the others). State's streak of nine straight bowls is currently the fifth-longest in the SEC.
Four of MSU's five losses occurred to teams in the final top 15 of the College Football Playoff rankings, including three on the road. All eight of the Bulldogs' victories were by double-digits, including a 28-13 win over then No. 19 Texas A&M.
MSU held seven of its FBS opponents to their lowest point total of the regular season, including then No. 1 Alabama (24), then No. 10 Florida (13) and then No. 19 Texas A&M (13).
In addition, State finished the season at No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings. MSU was the sixth-highest ranked SEC team in the final rankings. It represented the Bulldogs' highest finish in the CFP rankings since it was No. 7 in 2014.
In his first year at MSU, Broyles Award finalist and defensive coordinator/safeties coach Bob Shoop directed arguably the best defensive unit in college football. MSU is the only program in the country to finish the 2018 season in the top 10 of all four major defensive categories. State led the nation in total defense (263.1), finished second in both scoring defense (13.2) behind national champion Clemson (13.1) and rushing defense (95.08) and finished seventh in passing defense (168.0).
Offensively, the Bulldogs averaged 397.4 yards per game. They were one of the SEC's top rushing units, finishing second in the conference in yards per game (223.62).
Amway Coaches Poll (Final)
1. Clemson (63), 15-0
2. Alabama, 14-1
3. Ohio State, 13-1
4. Oklahoma, 12-2
5. Notre Dame, 12-1
6. Florida, 10-3
7. LSU, 10-3
8. Georgia, 11-3
9. Texas, 10-4
10. Washington State, 11-2
11. Kentucky, 10-3
12. Central Florida, 12-1
13. Washington, 10-4
14. Michigan, 10-3
15. Syracuse, 10-3
16. Texas A&M, 9-4
17. Penn State, 9-4
18. Fresno State, 12-2
19. Northwestern, 9-5
20. Army, 11-2
21. Utah State, 11-2
22. West Virginia, 8-4
23. Cincinnati, 11-2
24. Boise State, 10-3
25. Mississippi State, 8-5
STARKVILLE – For the seventh time in school history, Mississippi State finished the season ranked in the final Amway Coaches Poll as the Bulldogs checked in at No. 25 on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs closed out the year ranked 12 out of 16 weeks in the poll, including each of the last seven. Tuesday's ranking marked the second straight year MSU finished the season ranked in the final poll. State is one of seven schools in the SEC in the final poll, joining No. 2 Alabama, No. 6 Florida, No. 7 LSU, No. 8 Georgia, No. 11 Kentucky and No. 16 Texas A&M.
MSU In The Final Amway Coaches Poll Rankings
1994 — 25th
1999 — 12th
2000 — 22nd
2010 — 17th
2014 — 12th
2017 — 20th
2018 — 25th
The Bulldogs wrapped up the season with an 8-5 overall record, including a 4-4 mark in SEC play. State fell to Iowa, 27-22, in the Outback Bowl, which was the Bulldogs' school-record ninth straight bowl appearance. MSU is one of five SEC teams that has been to a bowl every season this decade (Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M the others). State's streak of nine straight bowls is currently the fifth-longest in the SEC.
Four of MSU's five losses occurred to teams in the final top 15 of the College Football Playoff rankings, including three on the road. All eight of the Bulldogs' victories were by double-digits, including a 28-13 win over then No. 19 Texas A&M.
MSU held seven of its FBS opponents to their lowest point total of the regular season, including then No. 1 Alabama (24), then No. 10 Florida (13) and then No. 19 Texas A&M (13).
In addition, State finished the season at No. 18 in the College Football Playoff rankings. MSU was the sixth-highest ranked SEC team in the final rankings. It represented the Bulldogs' highest finish in the CFP rankings since it was No. 7 in 2014.
In his first year at MSU, Broyles Award finalist and defensive coordinator/safeties coach Bob Shoop directed arguably the best defensive unit in college football. MSU is the only program in the country to finish the 2018 season in the top 10 of all four major defensive categories. State led the nation in total defense (263.1), finished second in both scoring defense (13.2) behind national champion Clemson (13.1) and rushing defense (95.08) and finished seventh in passing defense (168.0).
Offensively, the Bulldogs averaged 397.4 yards per game. They were one of the SEC's top rushing units, finishing second in the conference in yards per game (223.62).
Amway Coaches Poll (Final)
1. Clemson (63), 15-0
2. Alabama, 14-1
3. Ohio State, 13-1
4. Oklahoma, 12-2
5. Notre Dame, 12-1
6. Florida, 10-3
7. LSU, 10-3
8. Georgia, 11-3
9. Texas, 10-4
10. Washington State, 11-2
11. Kentucky, 10-3
12. Central Florida, 12-1
13. Washington, 10-4
14. Michigan, 10-3
15. Syracuse, 10-3
16. Texas A&M, 9-4
17. Penn State, 9-4
18. Fresno State, 12-2
19. Northwestern, 9-5
20. Army, 11-2
21. Utah State, 11-2
22. West Virginia, 8-4
23. Cincinnati, 11-2
24. Boise State, 10-3
25. Mississippi State, 8-5
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