Notes To Know vs. Vanderbilt

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State hits the road for the second time in conference play on Saturday traveling to Vanderbilt. Here are a few notes to know before the Bulldogs battle the Commodores at 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

Notes To Know

Collin Duncan's brother, CJ, played wide receiver at Vanderbilt from 2013-17. Duncan also recorded his first career interception in a 24-17 win over the Commodores in Starkville last year.
Mississippi State and Georgia are the only two teams in the country to claim multiple wins over teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series against Vandy 14-7-2 and have won the past four meetings by a combined score of 107-34. The series is tied 5-5-2 in Nashville, Tenn.
MSU has not lost to the Commodores since Oct. 2, 2004.
The Bulldogs have won 12 of the last 14 meetings against Vanderbilt dating back to 1972 and have won eight of the last nine overall in the series.
The Commodores last home victory against State was a 24-20 win on Sept. 10, 1988.
Saturday will be the Bulldogs first visit to Vanderbilt since 2009.
Will Rogers is the only quarterback in the Southeastern Conference to eclipse 400 yards through the air and toss multiple touchdowns in the same game. Rogers has accomplished that feat in both of the Bulldogs' other road games at Memphis and at Texas A&M.
Rogers has attempted 615 passes in 12 career starts and thrown only eight interceptions (1.3 percent).
Rogers tops the country in completions per game (41.7) and leads the league in completion percentage (73.7), passing yards (2,162) and passing yards per game (360.3).
State ranks second in the SEC and third in the FBS in yards after the catch.
Mississippi State is only allowing 15.7 first downs per game, which is the second-lowest average in the conference and 12^th lowest in the nation. In SEC play, the Bulldogs have surrendered the fewest passing first downs (25) and second-fewest rushing first downs (25).
Emmanuel Forbes continues to be the league's active leader in career interceptions with seven.
MSU ranks second in the SEC and 13^th nationally with 80 passes of 10-plus yards this season.
On the defensive side, the Bulldogs have only allowed 67 plays to exceed 10 yards – which also sits second in the conference and 18^th in the country.
Only three players on State's roster (Jaden Crumedy 24, Martin Emerson 22, Austin Williams 20) have started 20 or more games in their careers – the fewest total in the SEC.
Underclassmen have accounted for 14 of the Bulldogs' 18 touchdowns this fall.
Mississippi State is the only SEC school and one of only 11 teams nationally with multiple 400-yard passing games this season.
The following Bulldogs have an active receptions streak that exceeds 10 games: Jo'quavious Marks (17), Williams (15), Malik Heath (15), Makai Polk (15), Jaden Walley (15) and Jamire Calvin (11).
Polk tops the SEC and ranks third in the country averaging 8.8 catches per game.
MSU sits third in the SEC in rushing defense, giving up 106.8 yards per game on the ground.
Izuchukwu King Ani (Hendersonville) and Tucker Day (Brentwood) hail from suburbs of Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt does not have anyone from Mississippi on its roster despite having players from 25 different states and another from Washington D.C.
Saturday will be homecoming for the Commodores.
Sophomore Mike Wright is expected to make his second career start at quarterback for Vandy. Wright completed passes of 44, 50 and 52 yards in a loss at South Carolina last week, which are the longest three plays of the season for the Commodores.
Vanderbilt's defense has had two interceptions in each of its last three games.
The Commodores' defense created four takeaways against South Carolina last week and kept the Gamecocks off the board for 10 consecutive drives.
Vandy has lost eight of its last nine home games.
Former Alabama transfer Joseph Bulovas has kicked the game-winning field goal in both of the Commodores victories this season.

Players Mentioned

Jamire Calvin

Jaden Crumedy

Tucker Day

Collin Duncan

Martin Emerson

Emmanuel Forbes

Malik Heath

Izuchukwu King Ani

Jo'Quavious Marks

Makai Polk

Will Rogers

Jaden Walley

Austin Williams

Mississippi State University Athletics