Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Notes To Know vs. Memphis
September 17, 2021 | Football
Mississippi State is hitting the road for the first time in 2021 as it travels to Memphis on Saturday.
Here are a few notes to know before the Bulldogs take on the Tigers at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.
Here are a few notes to know before the Bulldogs take on the Tigers at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.
- MSU is riding a four-game winning streak dating back to the Missouri and Tulsa victories last year. It is longest winning streak the Bulldogs have had since winning the 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl and then starting the 2018 season off 3-0.
- Quarterback Will Rogers leads the country in completions per game (36) and also ranks fifth nationally with a 75 percent completion percentage.
- The Bulldogs have scored 100 percent of the time inside the red zone this season (6 TD, 1 FG).
- State's defense has only surrendered one red zone touchdown in five chances inside the 20 this year.
- Running back Jo'quavious Marks tops the Southeastern Conference and ranks fourth nationally averaging eight catches per game.
- The Bulldogs lead the conference with 28 passes of 10 or more yards this year.
- Mississippi State's defense has only given up three runs over 10 yards in 2021.
- Lideatrick Griffin ranks second in the country in kickoff return yardage (244) and average per return (48.8). Griffin returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown on the opening play of the game last week, the first time the Bulldogs have done that since Kevin Prentiss did so against South Carolina in 1998.
- Safety Jalen Green had an interception and a fumble recovery against NC State last week. It marks the third year in a row MSU has had a player record multiple turnovers in the same game joining Emmanuel Forbes against Missouri in 2020 and Leo Lewis at Auburn in 2019.
- MSU leads the all-time series against Memphis, 33-11. The Bulldogs also hold a 17-6 advantage in road games in the series.
- State has won 12 straight games against the Tigers.
- Memphis' last victory in the series came in Starkville in 1993 and its last home win vs. the Bulldogs was in 1988.
- Mississippi State won the last meeting against the Tigers 59-14 in Memphis in the 2011 season opener. The Bulldogs rolled up a then school-record 645 yards in that contest, which now ranks third in a single game all-time.
- MSU is 14-5 all-time against Memphis in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium and have won their last eight games against the Tigers in that venue. The Bulldogs also own a 2-1 postseason record at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium and have not been defeated there since losing to Air Force in the 1991 Liberty Bowl.
- Former Diamond Dog first round draft pick Dakota Hudson is scheduled to make a rehab start for the Memphis Redbirds at AutoZone Park at 7:10 p.m. on Friday.
- Memphis has won 16 straight games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, which is the fourth-best home streak in the country.
- The Tigers' last home loss was to then No.9 Central Florida on Oct. 13, 2018.
- Memphis has claimed victory in 21 consecutive non-conference games at home dating back to 2013. That streak includes two wins over ranked opponents (No. 13 Ole Miss, 2015; No. 25 UCLA, 2017) and two victories against SEC teams (Ole Miss, twice).
- The Tigers lead the NCAA in total offense, averaging 633.5 yards per game.
- Memphis is coming off a 55-50 win at Arkansas State in which it gained 680 yards.
- Memphis WR Calvin Austin III made six catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns vs. Arkansas State and is the reigning AAC Offensive Player of the Week.
- Memphis RB Brandon Thomas leads the country with 338 rushing yards and 169 yards per game.
Players Mentioned
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