Postgame Notes: No. 22 Mississippi State vs. Illinois
January 02, 2023 | Football
BOWLING BULLDOGS
- Today marked Mississippi State's 26th bowl appearance in program history and extended the team's program-record streak to 13 consecutive years of reaching the postseason.
- State now holds a 15-11 record all-time and an 8-5 record during its streak.
- State played in the ReliaQuest Bowl, formerly known as the Outback Bowl, for the second time in school history (2019 vs. Iowa).
- The SEC is now 13-8 against the Big Ten in the ReliaQuest Bowl since 2003 and 19-11 in the 30 matchups between the two conferences.
- Today's combined 29 points marked the lowest-scoring ReliQuest Bowl in the event's history.
- Previous Record: 30 points, 2007 and 1991.
- The 7-3 first-half score was the lowest in the history of the ReliaQuest Bowl since Michigan and Alabama combined for a 6-3 first-half score in 1997.
GENERAL
- Mississippi State won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
- MSU's game captain was WR Austin Williams.
- One Bulldog made his first career start: OL Albert Reese IV.
- Today's attendance was 35,797.
- State claimed its ninth nine-win season in school history and first since 2017.
- Today marked Zach Arnett's head coaching debut and first career victory.
- With the win, Arnett becomes the 17th MSU head coach to win in his collegiate head coaching debut (Dan Mullen, 2009; Sylvester Croom, 2004; Rockey Felker, 1986; Darrell K Royal, 1954; Spike Nelson, 1938; Ross McKechnie, 1933; Ray Dauber, 1932; J.W. Hancock, 1927; Bernie Bierman, 1925; Earl Able, 1923; Fred Holtkamp, 1920; Sid Robinson, 1917; E.C. Hayes, 1914; W.D. Chadwick, 1909; Fred Furman, 1907; Dan Martin, 1903).
- Today marked MSU's first win since 2020 when scoring less than 21 points. State is also 10-0 in that span when allowing less than 21 points.
OFFENSE
- State scored on 40-of-45 (88.9 percent) red zone opportunities this season, which ranks second in program history.
- School Record (since 2001): 90.5 percent [48-of-53] (2015).
- The Bulldogs scored 33 touchdowns in the red zone.
- WRs Rufus Harvey (505) and Lideatrick Griffin (502) became the second and third 500-yard receivers for the Bulldogs this season, which gives MSU multiple 500-yard receivers for just the seventh time in school history and the third straight season.
- Griffin totaled 53 yards today.
- Harvey collected 33 yards today.
DEFENSE
- MSU now has a takeaway in 30 of its 37 games since head coach Zach Arnett arrived as defensive coordinator in 2020.
- The Bulldogs have 57 total takeaways in that span, which trails only Alabama (59) and South Carolina (58) in the SEC.
- CB Marcus Banks recovered a fumbled lateral and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown as time expired.
- LBs Jett Johnson (115) and Nathaniel Watson (113) are the only pair of Power 5 teammates to finish 1-2 in their respective conference in tackles.
- They are one of three Power 5 duos to both have 100-plus tackles this season. (Cedric Gray and Power Echols, North Carolina; Cal Haladay and Kendell Brooks, Michigan State).
- State recorded 7.0 sacks as a team, by seven different players, which stands as its highest total of the season and an MSU bowl game record.
- Since 2000, State has recorded 7.0 sacks in a game two other times (at Kentucky, Oct. 25, 2014; at LSU, Sept. 26, 2020).
- Previous MSU Bowl Record: 6, 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl.
- MSU finished the year with 31.0 sacks, which is tied for 10th in MSU history with the 2000 team.
- State held Illinois to 35Â rushing yards, marking the 15th time the Bulldogs have held the opponent to fewer than 100 rushing yards since Arnett arrived in 2020.
- It was tied for MSU's fifth-lowest rushing total allowed under Arnett.Â
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
RB Jo'quavious Marks
- Broke Fred Ross' (2013-15) school record by extending his streak to 36 games with a reception, which includes every game of his career.
- Boasts the second-longest streak in the SEC and is one of just two players in the league with catches in 30 or more consecutive games.
- Now second in school history with 191 career receptions.
- School record: 199, Fred Ross (2013-16).
- Broke a season-long 28-yard run to the 2-yard line with 12 seconds to play.
- Finished with a career-high 68 rushing yards on seven carries (9.7 average).
- Named the MVP of the ReliaQuest Bowl.
- Caught a career-high seven passes for a career-best 81 yards.
- Scored on an 8-yard reception on fourth down.
- Also hauled in a career-long 25-yard reception.
- Threw for 261 yards with a touchdown while completing 29 passes.
- Passed for 200 yards for an MSU-record 31st time in his career.
- Finished the 2022 season, one passing touchdown shy of his own MSU single-season passing touchdown record (36, 2021).
- Has thrown at least one touchdown in 31 of his last 33 games.
- Holds the SEC career record with 1,159 completions.
- Holds MSU career records with 10,689 career passing yards and 82 career passing touchdowns.
- Passing yards rank eighth in SEC history.
- No. 7: 10,875, Danny Wuerffel, Florida (1993-96).
- Passing yards rank eighth in SEC history.
- Has now recorded 10,386 career total offense yards, which ranks second in MSU history.
- School Record: 11,897, Dak Prescott (2012-15).
- Finished the season with a 68.0 percent completion percentage (415-of-610), which ranks third in MSU history.
- Collected 3,974 passing yards this season, which ranks second in MSU history.
- Caught a 13-yard pass for his first career reception.
- Ranks 10th in MSU career history with 1,694 receiving yards.
- No. 9: 1,724, Terrell Grindle (1999-02).
- Now tied for eighth in school history with 141 career receptions with Justin Jenkins (2000-03).
- No. 7: 146, Sammy Milner (1968-70).
- Completed his first career pass for a 13-yard gain.
- Also had a pass attempt in 2021.
- Now fifth in school history with 150 career receptions.
- No. 4: 159, Chad Bumphis (2009-12).
- Has now played in a school-record 63 career games with 39 career starts.
- Returned a fumbled lateral 60 yards for his first career touchdown.
- It was his first career fumble recovery.
- Return stands as the longest fumble return in MSU bowl game history.
- Recorded his first career pass breakup on third down of Illinois' opening drive to force a punt.
- Also registered a third-down sack in the first quarter.
- Now has a single-season career-high 7.0 tackles for loss.
- Recorded a sack for a loss of two yards in the third quarter.
- Now has 12.0 career tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.
- Broke up his 10th pass of the season, which is a single-season career high and tied for ninth-most by a Bulldog since 2001.
- Recorded 12Â tackles to lead MSU for the seventh time this season.
- Now has eight career double-digit-tackle games, which is the 10th-most by a Bulldog since 1988.
- Tied for the fourth-most tackles by a Bulldog in a bowl game in program history.
- Finished the season leading the SEC with 114 tackles.
- Also recorded a sack for a loss of 10 yards in the fourth quarter.
- Finished with 1.5 tackles for loss.
- Registered his third career sack for a loss of two yards.
- Finished with a career-high-tying 2.0 tackles for loss.
- Finished the season trailing only teammate Jett Johnson for the SEC lead with 113Â tackles.
- Picked up a 3-yard sack on third down to force a punt.
- Now has a single-season career-high 6.0 sacks and 11.0 for his career.
- Recorded his second career sack in the fourth quarter.
- Made a game-winning 27-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock.
- Also made a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Players Mentioned
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