2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team explained

Year:	2018
Team:	Mississippi State Bulldogs
Sport:	football
Conference:	Southeastern Conference
Short Conf:	SEC
Division:	Western Division
Coachrank:	25
Record:	0–5
Conf Record:	0–4
Wins Vacated:	8
Conf Wins Vacated:	4
Hc Year:	1st
Oc Year:	1st
Dc Year:	1st
Bowl Result:	L 22–27 vs. Iowa

The 2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2018 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 first-year head coach Joe Moorhead. Mississippi State subsequently vacated all eight victories due to NCAA sanctions due to academic misconduct involving 10 players and a tutor in online coursework.^{[1] [2]}

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Lott Trophy^[3]	Jeffery Simmons	DT	JR
Rimington Trophy^[4]	Elgton Jenkins	C	SR
Chuck Bednarik Award^[5]	Montez Sweat	DE	SR
	Jeffery Simmons	DT	JR
Maxwell Award^[6]	Nick Fitzgerald	QB	SR
Davey O'Brien Award^[7]	Nick Fitzgerald	QB	SR
Doak Walker Award^[8]	Aeris Williams	RB	SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy^[9]	Jeffery Simmons	DT	JR
	Montez Sweat	DE	SR
Outland Trophy^[10]	Jeffery Simmons	DT	JR
Lou Groza Award^[11]	Jace Christmann	K	SO
Paul Hornung Award^[12]	Deddrick Thomas	WR/KR	JR
Wuerffel Trophy^[13]	Gerri Green	LB	SR
Ted Hendricks Award^[14]	Montez Sweat	DE	SR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award^[15]	Nick Fitzgerald	QB	SR
Manning Award^[16]	Nick Fitzgerald	QB	SR

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Bulldogs predicted to finish in third place in the West Division.^[17]

Media poll (West)
1	Alabama	1,971 (263)
2	Auburn	1,664 (19)
3	Mississippi State	1,239 (2)
4	Texas A&M	1,091
5	LSU	1,025
6	Ole Miss	578
7	Arkansas	412

Preseason All-SEC teams

The Bulldogs had five players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

Offense

3rd team

Nick Fitzgerald – QB

Aeris Williams – RB

Defense

1st team

Montez Sweat – DL

Jeffery Simmons – DL

3rd team

Mark McLaurin – DB

Schedule

All eight victories were subsequently vacated as part of NCAA sanctions due to academic misconduct involving a tutor and online coursework.

Schedule Source:^[18]

Game summaries

Stephen F. Austin

See also: 2018 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team.

At Kansas State

See also: 2018 Kansas State Wildcats football team.

Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald made his first appearance on the football fields since November 2017, when a foot injury sidelined him for the season and a 1-game suspension kept him out of the season opener. Fitzgerald threw for 154 yards with two touchdowns and ran for another 159 yards. Mississippi State compiled a total of 538 yards of total offense where Kansas State only managed 213.

Kansas State continued with its two-quarterback system, switching snaps between Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton. Kansas State running back Alex Barnes managed 75 yards rushing, but the Wildcats fell short to lose the game 31-10.^[19]

Louisiana

See also: 2018 Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns football team.

style=	Pregame line!	style=	Over/under
Mississippi State	−34.5

Statistics	Louisiana	Mississippi State
First downs	13	29
Total yards	310	607
Rushing yards	65	331
Passing yards	245	276
Turnovers	1	1
Time of possession	27:01	32:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana	Passing	Andre Nunez	21–29, 224 yards
Rushing		7 carries, 49 yards
Receiving	Keenan Barnes	4 receptions, 76 yards
Mississippi State	Passing	Nick Fitzgerald	14–21, 243 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing	Nick Fitzgerald	15 carries, 107 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving	Keith Mixon	4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD

At Kentucky

See also: 2018 Kentucky Wildcats football team.

Florida

See also: 2018 Florida Gators football team.

Auburn

See also: 2018 Auburn Tigers football team.

At LSU

See also: 2018 LSU Tigers football team and LSU–Mississippi State football rivalry.

Texas A&M

Louisiana Tech

See also: 2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team.

At Alabama

See also: 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama–Mississippi State football rivalry.

• Sources:

Statistics

Statistics	Mississippi State	Alabama
First downs	6	23
Total yards	169	305
Rushes–yards	30–44	45–142
Passing yards	125	163
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–20–0	17–27–1
Time of possession	26:05	33:55

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mississippi State	Passing	Nick Fitzgerald	11–20, 125 yards
Rushing		7 carries, 47 yards
Receiving	Deddrick Thomas	2 receptions, 25 yards
Alabama	Passing		14–21, 164 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing		20 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD
Receiving		6 receptions, 45 yards

Arkansas

See also: 2018 Arkansas Razorbacks football team.

At Ole Miss

See also: 2018 Ole Miss Rebels football team and Egg Bowl.

Vs. Iowa (Outback Bowl)

See also: 2018 Iowa Hawkeyes football team and 2019 Outback Bowl.

• Source: Box Score

In a back-and-forth game, Iowa held on to defeat SEC opponent Mississippi State. Senior Jake Gervase made a critical interception in the end zone, and batted down a fourth down pass to end the Bulldogs' hopes. The victory was Ferentz's fifth January bowl win and eighth overall bowl victory.

^{[20] [21] [22] [23] [24]}

Statistics	MS	IOWA
First downs	15	11
Total yards	342	199
Rushing yards	190	15
Passing yards	152	214
Turnovers	3	2
Time of possession	33:34	26:26

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Mississippi State	Passing	Nick Fitzgerald	14/32, 152 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing	Nick Fitzgerald	20 carries, 103 yards, TD
Receiving	Aeris Williams	3 receptions, 19 yards
Iowa	Passing		21/31, 214 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing	Toren Young	3 carries, 7 yards
Receiving		8 receptions, 104 yards, 2 TD

Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2019 NFL draft.

1	19		DT	Tennessee Titans
1	26		DE	Washington Redskins
1			S	Oakland Raiders
2	44		C	Green Bay Packers
6	199		LB	Indianapolis Colts

Notes and References

1. Web site: MSU fires Moorhead after two seasons. Logan Lowery Daily. Journal. Daily Journal. All eight of Moorhead's victories in 2018 had to be vacated after 10 football players were reprimanded by the NCAA for academic misconduct involving a former part-time tutor and an online chemistry class..
2. Web site: Mississippi State placed on 3 years probation by NCAA. WTVA News. Associated Press. Mississippi State has received three years' probation from the NCAA after an investigation determined a part-time student tutor completed coursework for 10 football players and one men's basketball player in an online class..
3. Web site: 2018 Watch List Lott IMPACT Trophy Honoring College Football's Defensive Best. lottimpacttrophy.org. en-US. 2018-07-17.
4. Web site: Rimington Trophy Press Release. May 30, 2018. July 14, 2018.
5. Web site: 2018 Bednarik Award Watch List. July 16, 2018. July 16, 2018. July 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180716194921/https://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/2018-maxwell-bednarik-watch-list/. dead.
6. Web site: 2018 Maxwell Award Watch List. July 16, 2018. July 17, 2018. July 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180716194824/https://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/2018-maxwell-watch-list/. dead.
7. Web site: Davey O’Brien Award Watch List includes 26 players. July 17, 2018. July 17, 2018. July 17, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180717184023/http://daveyobrienaward.org/2018/07/2018-davey-obrien-award-watch-list-includes-26-players/. dead.
8. Web site: 2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates. July 18, 2018. July 18, 2018.
9. Web site: 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List. July 24, 2018. July 24, 2018.
10. Web site: 22018 OUTLAND TROPHY WATCH LIST UNVEILED. July 24, 2018. July 24, 2018.
11. Web site: Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List. July 25, 2018. July 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20090817150753/http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Current_Watch_List.html. August 17, 2009. dead. mdy-all.
12. Web site: 43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST. July 26, 2018. July 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201637/http://www.louisvillesports.org/ph-article/43-players-named-to-2018-paul-hornung-award-watch-list/. July 26, 2018. dead. mdy-all.
13. Web site: Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List. July 26, 2018. July 26, 2018. July 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180726215108/https://www.wuerffeltrophy.org/news1/wuerffel-trophy-unveils-2018-watch-list. dead.
14. Web site: Preseason Watch List - 2018 edition of the Ted Hendricks Award. August 14, 2018. August 16, 2018. August 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180814232846/http://tedhendricks.com/2018_WATCH_LIST.pdf. dead.
15. Web site: Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced. August 14, 2018. August 17, 2018.
16. Web site: Dabe . Christopher . Manning Award: See which quarterbacks made the preseason watch list for 2018 . NOLA.com . 2018-08-16 . 2024-11-23.
17. Web site: Media predicts Alabama to win 2018 SEC Championship. www.secsports.com.
18. Web site: 2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule. FB Schedules. October 18, 2016.
19. Web site: Fitzgerald leads No. 18 Miss St to 31-10 rout of K-State. ESPN. September 16, 2018. September 15, 2018.
20. Web site: . Iowa to Play Mississippi State at Outback Bowl . December 2, 2018 . December 2, 2018 .
21. Web site: . 2019 Outback Bowl: News and Notes . January 1, 2019 . January 1, 2019 . January 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190102001015/https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2018/12/31/football-2018-outback-bowl-what-to-watch-for.aspx . dead .
22. Web site: Iowa Rallies Past No. 18 Mississippi State In Outback Bowl . Associated Press. January 1, 2019 . January 1, 2019.
23. Web site: Iowa 27, Mississippi State 22: Hawkeyes throw down with the 'big dog of the whole country' . The Gazette (Cedar Rapids). January 1, 2019 . January 2, 2019.
24. Web site: . Final Notes 2018 . January 17, 2019 . January 19, 2019 .