Postgame Notes: Tulsa vs. Mississippi State
December 31, 2020 | Football
GENERAL
- Mississippi State won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.

- MSU's game captain was LB Erroll Thompson.

- Today's attendance was 9,000.

- Five Bulldogs played in their fourth career bowl game today (K Jace Christmann, OL Greg Eiland, DE Kobe Jones, LB Erroll Thompson and OL Dareuan Parker).

- All four of MSU's touchdowns (2 rush, 1 pass, 1 interception) were scored by true freshmen.

- Mike Leach is the first first-year head coach in program history to win a bowl game.Â
- His record in bowl games is now 8-8.

- MSU recorded its first bowl victory since the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl (31-27 vs. Louisville) and improved its all-time bowl record to 14-10.

- The Bulldogs have played in a bowl game in 11 consecutive years, with a 7-4 bowl record in that span.

- MSU claimed its first win over a ranked opponent in a bowl game since 1940 when State defeated then-No. 13 Georgetown, 14-7.Â
- Today's win marks the first time that MSU has defeated two AP ranked opponents away from home in the same season since 1980.

- W, 34-31 at No. 18 Miami (Fla.), Oct. 18, 1980.

- W, 6-3 vs. No. 1 Alabama (Jackson, Miss.), Nov. 1, 1980.

- W, 44-34 at No. 6 LSU, Sept. 26, 2020.

- W, 28-26 vs. No. 22 Tulsa, Dec. 31, 2020.

- Today's temperature of 37 degrees is tied for the seventh-coldest game in program history.

- MSU is now 21-18 in games played in under 50-degree weather, including a 6-1 mark in bowl games.

- State is now 5-5 in games in under 40-degree weather, with it's previous most-recent win coming in a 51-50 victory at Arkansas on Nov. 21, 2015 (37 degrees).

- Weather data available dating back to 1976 and including the 1963 Liberty Bowl.

BOWL RECORDS
- DB Emmanuel Forbes' 90-yard interception return is a Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl and MSU Bowl record.

- Previous Armed Forces Bowl: 38 yards by Josh Jackson (Army, 2010). 

- Previous MSU: 46 yards by Willie Gay Jr. vs. Iowa (2019 Outback Bowl).

- Forbes' touchdown was the third interception return touchdown in Armed Forces Bowl history and the first since 2005.

- WR Lideatrick Griffin was named the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl MVP, marking MSU's 24th individual bowl game honoree and first since the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl.

OFFENSE
- State saw two receivers reach the 50-catch milestone in the same season for just the third time in school history.

- RB Jo'quavious Marks - 60 receptions

- WR Jaden Walley - 52 receptions

- Previous: Fred Ross and De'Runnya Wilson (2015); Sammy Milner and David Smith (1969).

- One of four FBS teams and two in the Power Five with a pair of 50-catch receivers (Boston College, South Alabama, UCF).

- Moved into a tie for 10th in MSU single-season history with 17 touchdown passes (2017 and 1994).

- Rushed for 100 or more yards for the second time this season and second consecutive game.

- Rushed for 10 or more yards on six plays, a season high.

- Previous: 4 vs. Missouri on Dec. 19.

- Rushed for 10 or more yards on six plays, a season high.

- MSU completed a school-record 67.0 percent of its passes this season.

- Previous: 66.2 percent in 2015.

- Improved the single-season team completion record with 373 this season.

- Previous: 331 in 2015.

- Increased the single-season team passing attempts record with 557 this season.

- Previous: 500 in 2015.

DEFENSE
- MSU has at least one takeaway in 34 of its last 40 games.

- The Bulldogs have collected 68 takeaways in the 40-game span dating back to Nov. 18, 2017 at Arkansas.

- State has now forced multiple turnovers in 12 games since the start of 2019.

- MSU forced multiple turnovers in five games in 2020.

- MSU has intercepted a pass in 24 of the last 37 games with 33 total picks in that span.

- MSU has recorded multiple interceptions in four games this season.

- The Bulldog defense sacked Tulsa 5.0 times, its highest total in a bowl game since recording 6.0 in the 2011 Music City Bowl vs. Wake Forest and the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl vs. Louisville.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Totaled 138 kickoff return yards.

- First Bulldog with more than 100 kick return yards since Keith Mixon (106 yards, 5 returns) vs. Arkansas on Nov. 19, 2016.

- Most kick return yards since Jameon Lewis (183 yards, 5 returns) at Ole Miss on Nov. 24, 2012.

- Returned the opening kickoff 53 yards.

- Averaged 35 yards per return on four kickoff returns.

- Named 2020 Armed Forces Bowl MVP
QB Will Rogers
- Scored the first rushing touchdown of his career on a 13-yard carry.

- Completed 239 passes this season, which is third in MSU single-season history.

- Finished the season with 1,976 passing yards, which ranks ninth in MSU single-season history.

- Matched the MSU freshman record with his 11th passing touchdown of the year.

- Previous: 11 by Wayne Madkin (1998).

- Improved his MSU freshman-record marks in passing yards (1,976), passing attempts (346) and completions (239).

- Finished the year ranked sixth in MSU single-season history with 346 pass attempts.

- Set a new MSU single-season record for completion percentage at 69.1 percent (239-of-346).

- Previous: 66.2 percent by Dak Prescott (316-of-477, 2015).

- Also MSU's current leader in career completion percentage.

- Previous: 62.8 percent by Dak Prescott (734-of-1,169, 2012-15).

- Now tied for ninth in MSU single-season history with 60 receptions along with De'Runnya Wilson (2015).

- Rushed for a career-high 72 yards.

- Scored on a career-long 28-yard touchdown run, which was MSU's longest running play of the season.

WR Jaden Walley
- Increased his MSU freshman-record receiving yards total to 718 this season.

- Became the first true freshman to lead MSU in receiving yardage since Chad Bumphis (375) in 2009.

- Set new career highs in rushing attempts (10) and rushing yards (57).

- Broke three runs of 10 yards or longer.

- Now ranks 11th in MSU career history with 107 receptions.

- Caught a pass for a season-long 24 yards in the second quarter.

- Intercepted his team-leading fifth pass of the year and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown.

- First Bulldog with five or more interceptions in a season since Mark McLaurin tied the school record with six in 2017.

- Five interceptions in 2020 are currently tied for third in the FBS, lead the SEC and are tied for eighth in school history.

- Forbes set the MSU single-season record and is tied for the career record for interception return touchdowns with three in 2020.

- Previous single-season record: 2 by seven different players.

- Career record: 3 by Johnthan Banks (2009-12), Corey Broomfield (2009-12) and Derek Pegues (2005-08).

- Play is tied for the sixth-longest interception return in school history with Anthony Derricks' 90-yard return against Auburn on Nov. 1, 1997.

- Tied for SEC active career lead in defensive touchdowns in 2020.

- Only MSU student-athlete on the field today to start four consecutive bowl games and one five Bulldogs on the roster to play in four bowl games.

- Picked up a sack on the opening drive.

- Now boasts 312 career tackles which ranks 16th in program history.

- First Bulldog with 300 career tackles since Mario Haggan (1999-2002, 359).

- Set a new single-season career high with a team-leading 95 tackles.

- Led MSU in total tackles in each of the past two seasons.

DE Aaron Odom
- Made his first career solo sack on a fourth down in the first quarter.

- Finished with a career-high 2.0 sacks.

- Made his first career sack.

LB Tyrus Wheat
- Recorded 0.5 sacks, giving him a team-leading 5.0 this season.

- Added a tackle for loss, giving him 6.0 this season.

- Intercepted the first pass of his career and returned it 23 yards.

- Led the team with a career-high nine tackles.

CB Jay Jimison
- Broke up the second pass of his career, swatting the ball in the end zone.

DE Jevon Banks
- Recorded his first career tackle for loss.

- Improved his school record for career kicking points to 223 (32 FG, 127 PAT).

- That mark ranks fourth in school history among all positions.

- Kicked four extra points today.

Â
Players Mentioned
DE
/ Football
K
/ Football
S
/ Football
OL
/ Football
CB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballFOOTBALL | Trevion Williams Game Week vs. Northern Illinois Media Session
Monday, September 15
FOOTBALL | Blake Shapen Game Week vs. Northern Illinois Media Session
Monday, September 15
FOOTBALL | Branden Jennings Game Week vs. Northern Illinois Media Session
Monday, September 15
FOOTBALL | Jacoby Jackson Game Week vs. Northern Illinois Media Session
Monday, September 15