2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team explained
The 2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs were led by Zach Arnett, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in December 2022 following the death of Mike Leach,[2] until his firing on November 13, 2023.[3]
The Mississippi State football team played its home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. This was also the final year for the West division as Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024. The Mississippi State Bulldogs football team drew an average home attendance of 54,455 in 2023.
Schedule
Mississippi State and the SEC announced the 2023 football schedule on September 20, 2022.[4] [5] The 2023 Bulldogs' schedule consists of 8 home games and 4 away games for the regular season. Mississippi State will host four SEC conference opponents Alabama (rivalry), Kentucky, LSU (rivalry) and Ole Miss (Egg Bowl) at home and will travel to four SEC opponents, Arkansas, Auburn, South Carolina and Texas A&M to close out the SEC regular season on the road. Mississippi State is not scheduled to play SEC East opponents Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee and Vanderbilt in the 2023 regular season. The Bulldogs' bye week comes during week 7 (on October 14, 2023).
Mississippi State out of conference opponents represent the MAC, Pac-12, SLC and the Sun Belt conferences. The Bulldogs will host all four non–conference games which are against Arizona from the Pac-12, Southeastern Louisiana from the SLC (FCS), Southern Miss from the Sunbelt and Western Michigan from the MAC.
[6]
Game summaries
vs No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana
See also: 2023 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.
| Statistics | SELA | MSST |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 23 |
| Total yards | 54–208 | 68–525 |
| Rushing yards | 26–83 | 39–298 |
| Passing yards | 125 | 227 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–28–0 | 20–29–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:58 | 31:02 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Eli Sawyer | 11/19, 85 yards |
| Rushing | Harlan Dixon | 8 carries, 51 yards |
| Receiving | Harlan Dixon | 4 receptions, 42 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | | 20/29, 227 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | | 19 carries, 127 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Creed Whittemore | 4 receptions, 59 yards, TD | |
vs Arizona
See also: 2023 Arizona Wildcats football team.
| Statistics | ARIZ | MSST |
|---|
| First downs | 23 | 16 |
| Total yards | 72–431 | 56–307 |
| Rushing yards | 25–91 | 38–145 |
| Passing yards | 340 | 162 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 33–47–4 | 13–17–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:22 | 27:38 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Arizona | Passing | | 32/46, 342 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT |
| Rushing | Jayden de Laura | 8 carries, 44 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 8 receptions, 161 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | | 13/17, 162 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | | 24 carries, 123 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 83 yards, 2 TD | |
vs No. 14 LSU
See also: 2023 LSU Tigers football team.
| Statistics | LSU | MSST |
|---|
| First downs | 26 | 10 |
| Total yards | 76–530 | 50–201 |
| Rushing yards | 39–163 | 21–94 |
| Passing yards | 367 | 107 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 31–37–0 | 12–29–0 |
| Time of possession | 38:39 | 21:21 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| LSU | Passing | | 30/34, 361 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Jayden Daniels | 15 carries, 64 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | | 13 receptions, 239 yards, 2 TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 11/28, 103 yards |
| Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 8 carries, 75 yards |
| Receiving | Zavion Thomas | 3 receptions, 52 yards | |
at South Carolina
See also: 2023 South Carolina Gamecocks football team.
| Statistics | MSST | SC |
|---|
| First downs | 20 | 19 |
| Total yards | 71–519 | 67–432 |
| Rushing yards | 23–32 | 47–144 |
| Passing yards | 487 | 288 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 30–48–1 | 18–20–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:18 | 31:42 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 30/48, 487 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 12 carries, 27 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Lideatrick Griffin | 7 receptions, 256 yards, TD |
| South Carolina | Passing | | 18/20, 288 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Mario Anderson | 26 carries, 88 yards, TD |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 189 yards, 2 TD | |
vs No. 12 Alabama (rivalry)
See also: 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
| Statistics | ALA | MSST |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 15 |
| Total yards | 56–357 | 62–261 |
| Rushing yards | 43–193 | 35–154 |
| Passing yards | 164 | 107 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–13–0 | 15–27–3 |
| Time of possession | 30:10 | 29:50 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Alabama | Passing | | 10/12, 164 yards |
| Rushing | Jalen Milroe | 11 carries, 69 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | | 3 receptions, 61 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 15/27, 107 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Jo'Quavious Marks | 9 carries, 68 yards |
| Receiving | Jeffery Pittman | 2 receptions, 23 yards, TD | |
vs Western Michigan
See also: 2023 Western Michigan Broncos football team.
| Statistics | WMU | MSST |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 25 |
| Total yards | 77–413 | 65–440 |
| Rushing yards | 32–116 | 33–194 |
| Passing yards | 297 | 246 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 33–45–1 | 23–32–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:46 | 31:14 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Michigan | Passing | | 27/35, 262 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Zahir Abdus-Salaam | 18 carries, 60 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Kenneth Womack | 12 receptions, 113 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 16/22, 189 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Seth Davis | 10 carries, 65 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Freddie Roberson | 5 receptions, 68 yards, TD | |
at Arkansas
See also: 2023 Arkansas Razorbacks football team.
| Statistics | MSST | ARK |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 12 |
| Total yards | 205 | 200 |
| Rushing yards | 120 | 103 |
| Passing yards | 85 | 97 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 8–12–1 | 19–31–1 |
| Time of possession | 28:35 | 31:25 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Mississippi State | Passing | Mike Wright | 8/12, 85 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Mike Wright | 11 carries, 60 yards |
| Receiving | Justin Robinson | 2 receptions, 40 yards |
| Arkansas | Passing | | 19/31, 97 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Rashod Dubinion | 14 carries, 47 yards |
| Receiving | Andrew Armstrong | 4 receptions, 35 yards | |
at Auburn
See also: 2023 Auburn Tigers football team.
| Statistics | MSST | AUB |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 345 | 416 |
| Rushing yards | 184 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 230 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–32–1 | 20–26–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:44 | 29:16 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Mississippi State | Passing | | 16/32, 161 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Mike Wright | 14 carries, 63 yards |
| Receiving | Zavion Thomas | 9 receptions, 112 yards, TD |
| Auburn | Passing | | 20/26, 230 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | | 17 carries, 144 yards |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 31 yards | |
vs Kentucky
See also: 2023 Kentucky Wildcats football team.
| Statistics | UK | MSST |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 15 |
| Total yards | 54–271 | 66–218 |
| Rushing yards | 29–110 | 31–73 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 145 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–25–0 | 17–35–1 |
| Time of possession | 30:38 | 29:22 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Kentucky | Passing | Devin Leary | 13/22, 156 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | | 21 carries, 80 yards |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 91 yards |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Mike Wright | 11/21, 78 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Seth Davis | 4 carries, 24 yards |
| Receiving | Zavion Thomas | 6 receptions, 44 yards | |
at Texas A&M
| Statistics | MSST | TXAM |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 24 |
| Total yards | 237 | 396 |
| Rushing yards | 133 | 246 |
| Passing yards | 104 | 150 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–21–3 | 11–21–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:24 | 30:36 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Mississippi State | Passing | Mike Wright | 5/9, 68 yards |
| Rushing | Seth Davis | 12 rushes, 79 yards |
| Receiving | Zavion Thomas | 4 receptions, 39 yards |
| Texas A&M | Passing | | 11/19, 150 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Jaylen Henderson | 12 rushes, 60 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 64 yards, TD | |
vs Southern Miss
See also: 2023 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team.
| Statistics | USM | MSST |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 18 |
| Total yards | 246 | 382 |
| Rushing yards | 105 | 238 |
| Passing yards | 141 | 144 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–21–1 | 12–27–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:42 | 28:18 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Southern Miss | Passing | | 9/16, 89 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | | 22 carries, 66 yards |
| Receiving | Jakarius Caston | 2 receptions, 88 yards, TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 12/27, 144 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Jeffery Pittman | 10 carries, 98 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Zavion Thomas | 3 receptions, 66 yards | |
vs No. 12 Ole Miss
See also: 2023 Ole Miss Rebels football team.
| Statistics | MISS | MSST |
|---|
| First downs | 22 | 16 |
| Total yards | 307 | 303 |
| Rushing yards | 211 | 96 |
| Passing yards | 96 | 207 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–26–0 | 25–39–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:57 | 28:03 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Ole Miss | Passing | | 14/26, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | | 28 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 38 yards, 1 TD |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Will Rogers | 25/39, 207 yards |
| Rushing | Jo’Quavious Marks | 12 carries, 39 yards |
| Receiving | Zavion Thomas | 6 receptions, 88 yards | |
Notes and References
- Web site: . Bain . Jacob . Mississippi State Football: Players Adjusting To New Offensive Scheme . August 13, 2023 . October 30, 2023.
- News: Mississippi State names Zach Arnett to replace Mike Leach. ESPN. December 14, 2022. Pete Thamel.
- Web site: 2023-11-13 . Mississippi State Announces Change In Football Leadership . 2024-01-18 . Mississippi State . en.
- Web site: 2023 SEC football schedule by team.... CBSSports.com. Barrett. Sallee. February 14, 2023. September 20, 2022.
- Web site: Mississippi State football’s 2023 schedule is complete: See the full list of opponents, dates. Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Stefan. Krajisnik. February 14, 2023. September 20, 2022.
- Web site: 2023 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule. FB Schedules.com. February 14, 2023.
