• Football
  • Mississippi State Football Faces a Tough Test Against the Tigers on the Road in Memphis

Mississippi State Football Faces a Tough Test Against the Tigers on the Road in Memphis

Details
Football

Mississippi State hits the road looking for its third straight win to start the 2021 season on Saturday as the Bulldogs square off against Memphis at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2, with Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Kirk Morrison (analyst), and Dawn Davenport (reporter) on the call.

Mississippi State's Storylines vs. Memphis

  • The Bulldogs have opened the season with two wins for the first time since 2018. That year was also the last time State started the season 3-0.
  • WR Lideatrick Griffin is the highest-graded kick returner in the SEC per PFF and ranks second in the nation in yards per kick return (48.8).
  • QB Will Rogers leads the nation in completions per game (36.0) and ranks fifth in the FBS in completion percentage (.750).
  • MSU leads the SEC and is fifth in the FBS in completion percentage (.750). The Bulldogs' 664 passing yards are second in the SEC (Ole Miss, 675) and No. 18 nationally.
  • The Bulldogs also lead the SEC in kickoff return yardage, averaging 48.8 yards per return. That mark ranks third in the FBS.
  • State is one of 35 teams in the FBS with a 100.0 percent mark in the red zone this season. The Bulldogs are tied for the SEC lead in red zone touchdown percentage (85.7 percent, 6-of-7).
  • RB Dillon Johnson caught six passes for a career-high and team-leading 70 yards against NC State (Sept. 11). He made a diving grab for a then-career-long 16-yard gain before adding a career-long grab of 26 yards.
  • RB Jo'quavious Marks leads the SEC and ranks fourth nationally in receptions per game (8.0). His 84.7 hands/drop grade from PFF leads the FBS.
  • MSU is one of 12 Power Five programs with multiple double-digit receivers and one of two FBS teams with multiple receivers among the top 20 pass catchers nationally.
  • The Bulldog defense boasts the No. 9 coverage grade in the FBS (87.7) from PFF and is tied for the No. 11 run defense grade (89.1). DT Cameron Young (90.5) is tied for the FBS' No. 14 grade in the running game and the fifth-highest in the SEC.
  • The Bulldogs have already forced five turnovers this season (2.50 per game) after recording 18 takeaways (1.64 per game) last year, which was tied for fourth in the SEC.
  • DB Emmanuel Forbes is the nation's active career leader (FBS only) in interception return touchdowns (3) and the SEC's active career leader in defensive scores. He ranks eighth in the FBS in career interception return yards (183).
  • LB Aaron Brule leads MSU in total pressures (6) this season according to PFF, which ranks third among SEC linebackers.
  • A two-time national coach of the year, Mike Leach has won 145 games in 19-plus seasons as a head coach highlighted by two 11-win seasons, five 9-win seasons, and five 8-win seasons. He's the only active Power 5 head coach to produce an 11-win season at two different programs since 2008.
  • Mike Leach's program returns 15 of 22 starters from last season (eight on offense and seven on defense). One of the youngest teams in college football last year, 26 Bulldogs made their first career start, tied for the FBS lead. Just over 50 percent of State's snaps were taken by first-time starters last season.
  • The 2020 season saw MSU claim victories over multiple AP-ranked opponents away from home for the first time since 1980. State defeated No. 6 LSU, 44-34, in Baton Rouge to open the season and No. 22 Tulsa, 28-26, in a neutral matchup at the Armed Forces Bowl. In 1980, the Bulldogs toppled No. 18 Miami (Fla.) on the road, 34-31, before defeating No. 1 Alabama, 6-3, on a neutral field.