2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

The 2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs played their home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by second-year head coach Mike Leach.

2021 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Liberty Bowl, L 7–34 vs. Texas Tech
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Record7–6 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive schemeAir raid
Defensive coordinatorZach Arnett (2nd season)
Base defense3–3–5
Home stadiumDavis Wade Stadium (Capacity: 61,337)
2021 Southeastern Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 1 Georgia x#^  8 –0   14 –1  
No. 18 Kentucky  5 –3   10 –3  
Tennessee  4 –4   7 –6  
Missouri  3 –5   6 –7  
South Carolina  3 –5   7 –6  
Florida  2 –6   6 –7  
Vanderbilt  0 –8   2 –10  
West Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^  7 –1   13 –2  
No. 11 Ole Miss  6 –2   10 –3  
No. 21 Arkansas  4 –4   9 –4  
Mississippi State  4 –4   7 –6  
Texas A&M  4 –4   8 –4  
Auburn  3 –5   6 –7  
LSU  3 –5   6 –7  
Championship: Alabama 41, Georgia 24
  • # – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Coaching staff

Staff from 2021.[1]

NamePosition
Mike LeachHead coach
Tony HughesAssociate head coach & Nickelbacks Coach
Zach ArnettDefensive coordinator & Linebackers coach
Matt BrockSpecial teams coordinator & Outside Linebackers Coach
Darcel McBathCornerbacks coach
Eric MeleRunning backs coach
Mason MillerOffensive line coach
Dave NicholInside receivers coach
Jeff PhelpsDefensive line coach
Steve Spurrier Jr.Outside receivers coach
Jason WashingtonSafeties coach
Tyson BrownHead strength and conditioning coach

SEC Media Days

In the preseason media poll, Mississippi State was predicted to finish last in the West Division.[2]

West
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Alabama 932 (130)
2 Texas A&M 760 (1)
3 LSU 633 (1)
4 Ole Miss 529 (1)
5 Auburn 440
6 Arkansas 241 (1)
7 Mississippi State 217

Regular season

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 43:00 p.m.Louisiana Tech*
ESPNUW 35–3444,669
September 116:00 p.m.NC State*
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
ESPN2W 24–1045,834
September 183:00 p.m.at Memphis*
ESPN2L 29–3143,461
September 2511:00 a.m.LSU
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS (rivalry)
ESPNL 25–2850,298
October 26:00 p.m.at No. 15 Texas A&M
SECNW 26–2287,973
October 166:00 p.m.No. 5 Alabama
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS (rivalry)
ESPNL 9–4953,796
October 233:00 p.m.at Vanderbilt
SECNW 45–622,036
October 306:00 p.m.No. 12 Kentuckydagger
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
SECNW 31–1749,487
November 63:00 p.m.at ArkansasNo. 17
SECNL 28–3168,818
November 1311:00 a.m.at No. 17 Auburn
ESPNW 43–3487,451
November 2011:00 a.m.Tennessee State*No. 25
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS
ESPN+/SECN+W 55–1046,770
November 256:30 p.m.No. 9 Ole Miss
  • Davis Wade Stadium
  • Starkville, MS (Egg Bowl)
ESPNL 21–3155,601
December 285:45 p.m.vs. Texas Tech*
ESPNL 7–3448,615

[3]

Game summaries

Louisiana Tech
See also: 2021 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
1 234Total
Louisiana Tech 7 14103 34
• Mississippi State 14 0021 35
Pregame lineOver/under
-20.553
StatisticsLA TechMSU
First downs1422
Total yards369436
Rushing yards10166
Passing yards268371
Turnovers24
Time of possession27:4032:20
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Louisiana TechPassingAustin Kendall20/36, 269 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingAustin Kendall5 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingBub Means2 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers39/47, 370 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingJo’Quavious Marks12 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD’S
ReceivingJamire Calvin3 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD

NC State
See also: 2021 NC State Wolfpack football team
1 234Total
NC State 0 307 10
• Mississippi State 7 773 24
  • Date:
    September 11
  • Location:
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start:
    6:05 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 45,834
  • Game weather: 83, Sunny, Wind SE @ 4 mph
  • Referee: Jerry Magallane
  • TV announcers (ESPN2):
    Anish Shroff (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline) [6]
Pregame lineOver/under
+1.556
StatisticsNC StateMSU
First downs1615
Total yards335316
Rushing yards3222
Passing yards303294
Turnovers30
Time of possession28:5431:06
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
NC StatePassingDevin Leary30/49, 303 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingZonovan Knight8 carries, 31 yards
ReceivingEmeka Emezie6 receptions, 92 yards
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers33/49, 294 yards, 2 TD's
RushingDillon Johnson6 carries, 18 yards
ReceivingDillon Johnson6 receptions, 70 yards

At Memphis
See also: 2021 Memphis Tigers football team
1 234Total
Mississippi State 3 14012 29
• Memphis 7 0717 31
  • Date:
    September 18
  • Location:
    Memphis, TN
  • Game start:
    3:05 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 43,461
  • Game weather: 77, Cloudy, Wind NE @ 7 mph
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV announcers (ESPN2):
    Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (field) [8]
Pregame lineOver/under
-3.064
StatisticsMSUMemphis
First downs2612
Total yards468246
Rushing yards4987
Passing yards419159
Turnovers11
Time of possession40:3319:27
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers50/67, 419 yards, 3 TD
RushingDillon Johnson7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMakai Polk11 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
MemphisPassingSeth Henigan16/28, 159 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingBrandon Thomas16 carries, 86 yards
ReceivingCalvin Austin9 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD

LSU
See also: 2021 LSU Tigers football team and LSU–Mississippi State football rivalry
1 234Total
• LSU 7 0147 28
Mississippi State 0 3715 25
  • Date:
    September 25
  • Location:
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start:
    11:07 a.m.
  • Game attendance: 50,298
  • Game weather: 74, Sunny, Wind NW @ 2 mph
  • Referee: Alex Moore
  • TV announcers (ESPN):
    Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (analyst), and Kris Budden (sideline reporter) [10]
Pregame lineOver/under
+1.556
StatisticsLSUMSU
First downs1529
Total yards343486
Rushing yards63115
Passing yards280371
Turnovers12
Time of possession24:5235:08
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LSUPassingMax Johnson17/27, 280 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
RushingTyrion Davis-Price13 carries, 51 yards
ReceivingKayshon Boutte4 receptions, 85 yards, 2 TD
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers47/62, 371 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingDillon Johnson8 carries, 51 yards
ReceivingMakai Polk8 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD

At No. 15 Texas A&M
See also: 2021 Texas A&M Aggies football team
1 234Total
• Mississippi State 10 772 26
No. 15 Texas A&M 7 663 22
Pregame lineOver/under
+7.047
StatisticsMSUTexas A&M
First downs2715
Total yards438297
Rushing yards30162
Passing yards408135
Turnovers01
Time of possession35:0624:54
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers46/59, 408 yards, 3 TD
RushingDillon Johnson6 carries, 19 yards
ReceivingMakai Polk13 receptions, 126 yards, 2 TD
Texas A&MPassingZach Calzada12/20, 135 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingIsaiah Spiller16 carries, 100 yards
ReceivingJalen Preston2 receptions, 49 yards

No. 5 Alabama
See also: 2021 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama-Mississippi State football rivalry
1 234Total
• No. 5 Alabama 14 71414 49
Mississippi State 3 330 9
  • Date:
    October 16
  • Location:
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start:
    6:11 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 53,796
  • Game weather: 63, Sunny, Wind N @ 7 mph
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Katie George (sideline) [14]
Pregame lineOver/under
+17.058
StatisticsAlabamaMSU
First downs2224
Total yards543299
Rushing yards195-1
Passing yards348300
Turnovers03
Time of possession29:5330:07
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
AlabamaPassingBryce Young20/28, 348 yards, 4 TD
RushingRoydell Williams11 carries, 78 yards
ReceivingJohn Metchie III7 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers35/55, 300 yards, 3 INT
RushingDillon Johnson7 carries, 24 yards
ReceivingJaden Walley6 receptions, 64 yards

At Vanderbilt
See also: 2021 Vanderbilt Commodores football team
1 234Total
• Mississippi State 10 14714 45
Vanderbilt 0 330 6
  • Date:
    October 23
  • Location:
    Nashville, TN
  • Game start: 3:01 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 22,036
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV announcers (SECN): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Alyssa Lang (sideline reporter) [16]
Pregame lineOver/under
-20.553
StatisticsMSUVanderbilt
First downs295
Total yards522155
Rushing yards619
Passing yards461146
Turnovers21
Time of possession39:0220:58
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers41/57, 384 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
RushingDillon Johnson7 carries, 34 yards
ReceivingJaden Walley5 receptions, 72 yards
VanderbiltPassingMike Wright12/17, 122 yards, 1 INT
RushingRocko Griffin7 carries, 12 yards
ReceivingDevin Boddie Jr.4 receptions, 69 yards

No. 12 Kentucky
See also: 2021 Kentucky Wildcats football team
1 234Total
No. 12 Kentucky 7 307 17
• Mississippi State 0 14170 31
  • Date:
    October 30
  • Location:
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 6:09 p.m.
  • Game attendance: 49,487
  • Game weather: 55, Cloudy, Wind NW @ 5 mph
  • Referee: Lee Hendrick
  • TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), Cole Cubelic (sideline) [18]
Pregame lineOver/under
-1.047
StatisticsKentuckyMSU
First downs1427
Total yards216438
Rushing yards6694
Passing yards150344
Turnovers40
Time of possession18:5041:10
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingWill Levis17/28, 150 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
RushingChris Rodriguez Jr.8 carries, 34 yards
ReceivingWan'Dale Robinson9 receptions, 79 yards
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers36/39, 344 yards, 1 TD
RushingJo’Quavious Marks20 carries, 58 yards , 1 TD
ReceivingJaden Walley6 receptions, 95 yards

At Arkansas
See also: 2021 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
1 234Total
No. 17 Mississippi State 0 7714 28
• Arkansas 10 3315 31
Pregame lineOver/under
+4.054
StatisticsMSUArkansas
First downs2823
Total yards486393
Rushing yards69202
Passing yards417191
Turnovers10
Time of possession32:1427:46
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers36/48, 417 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
RushingJo'quavious Marks11 carries, 40 yards
ReceivingMakai Polk8 receptions, 117 yards
ArkansasPassingKJ Jefferson19/23, 191 yards, 1 TD
RushingDominique Johnson17 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingTreylon Burks6 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TD

At No. 17 Auburn
See also: 2021 Auburn Tigers football team
1 234Total
• Mississippi State 3 71320 43
No. 17 Auburn 14 1406 34
Pregame lineOver/under
+5.551
StatisticsMSUAuburn
First downs3122
Total yards487483
Rushing yards72106
Passing yards415377
Turnovers01
Time of possession35:0124:59
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers44/55, 415 yards, 6 TD
RushingDillon Johnson8 carries, 62 yards
ReceivingJaden Walley7 receptions, 87 yards
AuburnPassingBo Nix27/41, 377 yards, 2 TD
RushingJa'Varrius Johnson1 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingKobe Hudson8 receptions, 107 yards, 1 TD

Tennessee State
See also: 2021 Tennessee State Tigers football team
1 234Total
Tennessee State 0 0010 10
• No. 25 Mississippi State 21 14146 55
  • Date:
    November 20
  • Location:
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 11:02 a.m.
  • Game attendance: 46,770
  • Game weather: 55, Sunny, Wind SE @ 8 mph
  • Referee: Daniel Gautreaux
  • TV announcers (ESPN+/SECN+): Mike Couzens (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst) [24]
Pregame lineOver/under
-44.056
StatisticsTenn StateMSU
First downs1423
Total yards205600
Rushing yards35107
Passing yards170493
Turnovers12
Time of possession35:2024:40
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Tennessee StatePassingDeveon Bryant9/11, 128 yards
RushingDevon Starling11 carries, 33 yards
ReceivingCam Wyche4 receptions, 88 yards
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers28/34, 391 yards, 5 TD
RushingDillon Johnson5 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMakai Polk9 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD

No. 9 Ole Miss
See also: 2021 Ole Miss Rebels football team and Egg Bowl
Egg Bowl
1 234Total
• No. 9 Ole Miss 3 7714 31
Mississippi State 6 0015 21
  • Date: November 25
  • Location: Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 6:33 p.m.
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Katie George (sideline)
Pregame lineOver/under
-2.065
StatisticsOle MissMSU
First downs2330
Total yards388420
Rushing yards15484
Passing yards234336
Turnovers10
Time of possession30:1629:44
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Ole MissPassingMatt Corral26/34, 234 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJerrion Ealy16 carries, 60 yards
ReceivingDontario Drummond14 receptions, 138 yards
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers38/58, 336 yards, 1 TD
RushingJo'quavious Marks8 carries, 45 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMakai Polk10 receptions, 98 yards

Vs. Texas Tech
See also: 2021 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team and 2021 Liberty Bowl
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
1 234Total
• Texas Tech 10 3147 34
Mississippi State 0 700 7
  • Date: December 28
  • Location: Memphis, TN
  • Game start: 5:45 pm CST
  • Game attendance: 48,615
  • Referee: Riley Jefferson
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Deuce McAllister (analyst), Andraya Carter (sideline)
Pregame lineOver/under
-10.058
StatisticsTTUMSU
First downs2421
Total yards512344
Rushing yards26054
Passing yards252290
Turnovers03
Time of possession30:5728:41
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Texas TechPassingDonovan Smith15/28, 252 yards, 1 TD
RushingTahj Brooks16 rushes, 107 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMyles Price3 receptions, 72 yards
Mississippi StatePassingWill Rogers32/53, 290 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingDillon Johnson9 rushes, 62 yards
ReceivingAustin Williams5 receptions, 74 yards

Rankings
Further information: 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP—————RVRV——RV—RVRVRVRV—
CoachesRV—RV——RVRV——RV—RVRVRVRV—
CFPNot released17—25———Not released

Statistics

Scores by quarter (non-conference opponents)
1 2 3 4 Total
All opponents 14 17 17 37 85
Mississippi State 45 35 21 42 143

Scores by quarter (SEC opponents)
1 2 3 4 Total
SEC opponents 62 43 47 66 218
Mississippi State 32 55 61 80 228

Team statistics

Players drafted into the NFL
See also: 2022 NFL Draft

[28][29]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
19Charles CrossOTSeattle Seahawks
368Martin EmersonCBCleveland Browns

References
  1. "Football Coaches". Mississippi State. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  2. "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced". SECSports.com. Southeastern Conference. September 23, 2020.
  3. "2021 Mississippi State Football Schedule". FBSchedule. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  4. Molly Weisner (September 4, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Louisiana Tech football on TV, live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  5. R.J. Morgan (September 3, 2021). "Mississippi St. avoids La. Tech upset bid with 35-34 win". Yahoo! News. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  6. Molly Weisner (September 10, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. NC State football on TV, live stream plus game time". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  7. Theo Derosa (September 12, 2021). "Griffin's kick return leads Mississippi St. over NC St". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on September 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  8. Molly Weisner (September 17, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Memphis Tigers football on live stream, TV". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  9. Frank Bonner II (September 18, 2021). "Tigers go down to the wire in thrilling win over Mississippi State". The Daily Memphian. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  10. Molly Weisner (September 23, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State football vs. LSU Tigers on TV, live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  11. "Johnson has 4 TD passes, LSU outlasts Mississippi St. 28-25". WLOX. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  12. Nick Gray (October 2, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State football vs. Texas A&M Aggies on TV, live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  13. Zach Taylor (October 3, 2021). "No. 15 Aggie Football Upset by Mississippi State". WTAW (AM). Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  14. Molly Weisner (October 15, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Alabama football on TV, live stream plus game time". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  15. David Cobb (October 16, 2021). "Alabama vs. Mississippi State score, takeaways: No. 5 Tide demolish Bulldogs in get-right game". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  16. Molly Weisner (October 22, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt football on TV, live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  17. Aria Gerson (October 23, 2021). "Vanderbilt football crushed by Mississippi State, 45-6". The Tennessean. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  18. Molly Weisner (October 29, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Kentucky football on TV and live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  19. Gabriel Stovall (October 30, 2021). "Kentucky vs. Mississippi State: The Wildcats fall to Bulldogs 31-17". Louisville Courier Journal. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  20. Molly Weisner (November 5, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Arkansas football on TV and live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  21. Eric W. Bolin (November 6, 2021). "Arkansas scores in final minute to beat Mississippi State". Associated Press. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  22. Molly Weisner (November 11, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Auburn football on TV, live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  23. Tom Green (November 13, 2021). "Auburn's defense surrenders 40 unanswered points in loss to Mississippi State". AL.com. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  24. Molly Weisner (November 18, 2021). "How to watch Mississippi State vs. Tennessee State football on live stream". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  25. "Mississippi State dominates Tennessee State 55-10". WLBT. November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  26. "Ole Miss defeats Mississippi State in 94th Egg Bowl". WLBT. November 26, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  27. "Box Score". ESPN. December 28, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  28. "NFL draft round 1". NFL Enterprises. 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  29. "NFL draft round 3". NFL Enterprises. 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
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