Not even a 25-point deficit could deny Mississippi State on this day.
Down 28-3 in the second quarter, MSU came roaring back with 40 unanswered points on the way to an eventual 43-34 victory over No. 16 Auburn. It marked the largest come-from-behind victory in Mississippi State history and got the Bulldogs bowl eligible. Mississippi State is now set to play in a postseason game for a 12th-straight season.
The largest deficit previously overcame in a State win was in this year's season opener when the Bulldogs rallied from 20 points down to top Louisiana Tech. That record held for just over two months behind State's resilient showing on The Plains.
Will Rogers set a new MSU single-game best with six touchdown passes and totaled 415 yards through the air to lead the Bulldogs offensively. On the defensive side, State limited Auburn to only six second-half points.
The Tigers built a 28-3 advantage by midway through the second quarter. Auburn built its lead courtesy of a pair of touchdown rushes – one each by Tank Bigsby and Ja'Varrius Johnson – and Auburn quarterback Bo Nix also threw a pair of touchdown passes to give Auburn a cushion. State's lone points in the early going came on a 34-yard Nolan McCord field goal.
Just before halftime though, Rogers' first touchdown pass of the day gave the Bulldogs a spark. Rogers hit Makai Polk from four yards out and MSU trailed just 28-10 at the intermission. The Bulldogs kept scoring when they emerged from the locker room.
Rogers threw a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter, both on three-yard strikes. Jamire Calvin caught one and Dillon Johnson hauled in the other to pull MSU within five points at 28-23.
The Bulldogs surged ahead in the fourth quarter. Rogers hit Polk, Malik Heath and Calvin for touchdown passes in the period and MSU led 43-28. Auburn added a late score, but the Bulldogs held on for the triumph.
With the victory, State head coach Mike Leach has now won four road or neutral-site games against Associated Press-ranked opponents, tying Emory Bellard for the school record. Leach now has five ranked wins in his 22 games as MSU's leader, becoming the fastest in school history to notch five wins over ranked foes.
Next Up for MSU…
The Bulldogs return home to Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi State will host Tennessee State on Saturday, Nov. 13. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT and the game will be available to watch online via SEC Network+ and ESPN+.
