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.
![Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) punts during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Fmsstate.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F1%2F1%2FUSATSI_27828199.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
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DT
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