Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
GAMEDAY: Bulldogs Host No. 12 Kentucky
October 25, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – It's a big Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. It's Homecoming for Mississippi State as the Bulldogs host Kentucky in a 6 p.m. CT game set to be televised by SEC Network. In addition to the football action, MSU will also recognize its 2021 National Championship baseball team on-field with a ring presentation, while baseball alumni will also be in attendance and honored throughout the contest.
For those attending, stadium gates open at 3:45 p.m. Mobile tickets should be downloaded prior to arriving at the stadium. Fans can also listen for free on HailState.com/plus. Full gameday information can be found at HailState.com/Gameday.
Mississippi State's Storylines vs. No. 12 Kentucky
- State is coming off its second 500-yard offensive game under Mike Leach. The Bulldogs also passed for 461 yards, their fourth-highest total in school history and their fifth 400-yard passing game under Leach.
- MSU and Kentucky have one of the most even series in the SEC, tied 24-24 all-time. State won six in a row to tie the series in 2014, and the teams have traded victories since with the home team winning each of the last four meetings.
- The last time the road team won in the series was when State claimed a 45-31 victory in Lexington in 2014. The home team has won 29 of the last 48 meetings.
- Leach spent the 1997 and 1998 seasons as Kentucky's offensive coordinator and the two programs combined hold 13 SEC team and individual offensive records. The Wildcats set six NCAA records, 41 SEC records and 116 school records in just 22 games under Leach. Of those, 39 offensive school records still stand today (23 individual, 16 team).
- Against Vanderbilt last week, State completed passes to 13 different receivers, which is its highest total in the last 25 years.
- Six of the top 20 reception totals in the SEC belong to Bulldogs.
- State boasts the nation's No. 9 pass blocking grade (78.5) and No. 20 passing grade (81.8) in the nation per Pro Football Focus.
- State ran 86 plays to Vanderbilt's 42 last week and outgained the Commodores 522-155 in total offense. The Bulldogs are one of three FBS teams since 2000 to hold an opponent to fewer than 45 total snaps.
- QB Will Rogers is the only QB in the SEC with 400+ passing yards and multiple touchdowns in the same game, and he's done so twice. He is one of five players nationally with multiple such games. Rogers also stands as the NCAA's active career leader in completions per game (33.1) and completion percentage (71.4). He ranks eighth among active players in total offense per game for his career (276.3).
- State has already completed 296 passes, which ranks third in MSU single-season history.
- Mississippi State is the one of six schools in the nation with multiple players who have recorded 40-plus receptions this season (WR Makai Polk, 58 and RB Jo'quavious Marks, 49).
- A trio of Bulldogs collected weekly honors following State's 45-6 win at Vanderbilt. QB Will Rogers was selected to the Davey O'Brien Award Great 8 for the second time this year, and OL Charles Cross and WR Rara Thomas earned SEC Player of the Week honors. It marked the first time since Nov. 26, 2018 that MSU earned two of the SEC's weekly awards in the same week.
- OL Charles Cross earned his second SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week award of the year after leading the team with an 80.6 offensive grade at Vanderbilt. He posted an 83.2 run blocking grade and a 78.1 pass blocking grade while not being penalized or allowing a sack in 81 snaps.
- The Bulldogs are second in the nation, trailing only No. 4 Alabama, in yards after catch in 2021 (1,441) and have the highest YAC/game total (205.9).
- The Bulldogs' run defense is one of the best in the nation. MSU has held the opponent below the 100-yard mark four times this year, and allowed just 101 yards in the season opener against Louisiana Tech (Sept. 4). State ranks third in the SEC and No. 11 in the nation in rushing defense (92.9).
- MSU is tied for the SEC lead and ranks fourth in the nation in total plays against, allowing opponents 408 snaps this season. State has allowed just 99 first downs this year, which is second in the SEC and fourth nationally.
- State has allowed only 70 plays of 10+ yards from scrimmage this season, which ranks second in the SEC and ninth in the FBS.
- Four Bulldogs made their MSU debuts at Vanderbilt: QB Chance Lovertich, S Kyle Cass, S Corey Ellington and LB John Lewis. Four Bulldogs also made their first career tackles in that game: Ellington, Lewis, LB Ty Cooper and S Janari Dean.
- CB Emmanuel Forbes made his eighth career interception last week. He is the SEC's active career leader and is tied for the FBS lead since the start of the 2020 season. Forbes is fourth in the FBS in career interception return yards (216) and active national leader in career interceptions per game (0.44).
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