This is a list of seasons completed by the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team. Representing Mississippi State University, the Bulldogs compete in the Southeastern Conference West Division in the NCAA Division I FBS. Since 1914, Mississippi State has played its home games out of 61,337-seat Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. Initially known as the Mississippi A&M Aggies, the program began play in 1895 as an independent before joining the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association the following season. The school did not field a football program from 1897 to 1900. In 1921, Mississippi A&M joined the Southern Conference, where they competed for twelve seasons before joining the SEC where they currently reside.
The Bulldogs won their first and only SEC championship in 1941, and captured a division title in 1998. As of the end of the 2017 season, Mississippi State has played in 24 bowl games, compiling a 14–10 record. They have played in a bowl game in eleven consecutive seasons dating back to 2010. The team is currently led by head coach Jeff Lebby.
| Season | Team | Head coach | Conference | Division | Regular season results | Postseason results | Final ranking[2] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Conference | Bowl game/Playoff result | AP Poll | Coaches' Poll | ||||||||||
| Win | Loss | Tie | Win | Loss | Tie | Finish | ||||||||
| Mississippi A&M Aggies | ||||||||||||||
| 1895 | 1895 | W. M. Matthews | Independent | — | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1896 | 1896 | J. B. Hildebrand | SIAA | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1901 | 1901 | L. B. Harvey | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1902 | 1902 | L. Gwinn | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1903 | 1903 | Dan Martin | 3 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1904 | 1904 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1905 | 1905 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1906 | 1906 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1907 | 1907 | Fred Furman | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1908 | 1908 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1909 | 1909 | W. D. Chadwick | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1910 | 1910 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1911 | 1911 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1912 | 1912 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1913 | 1913 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1914 | 1914 | Earle C. Hayes | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1915 | 1915 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1916 | 1916 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1917 | 1917 | Sid Robinson | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1918 | 1918 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1919 | 1919 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1920 | 1920 | Fred Holtkamp | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1921 | 1921 | Southern | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1922 | 1922 | Dudy Noble | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1923 | 1923 | Earl Abell | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1924 | 1924 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1925 | 1925 | Bernie Bierman | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1926 | 1926 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1927 | 1927 | John W. Hancock | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1928 | 1928 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1929 | 1929 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 1930 | 1930 | Chris Cagle | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| 1931 | 1931 | Ray Dauber | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||||
| Mississippi State Maroons | ||||||||||||||
| 1932 | 1932 | Ray Dauber | Southern | — | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1933 | 1933 | Ross McKechnie | SEC | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 12th | — | — | — | |
| 1934 | 1934 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12th | — | — | — | |||
| 1935 | 1935 | Ralph Sasse | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | T–9th | — | — | — | ||
| 1936 | 1936 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5th | Lost 1937 Orange Bowl against Duquesne, 12–13 | — | — | |||
| 1937 | 1937 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — | |||
| 1938 | 1938 | Spike Nelson | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 11th | — | — | — | ||
| 1939 | 1939 | Allyn McKeen | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — | ||
| 1940 | 1940 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2nd | Won 1941 Orange Bowl against Georgetown, 14–7 | 9 | — | |||
| 1941 | 1941† | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1st† | — | 16 | — | |||
| 1942 | 1942 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4th | — | 18 | — | |||
| 1943 | 1943 | Season cancelled due to World War II. | ||||||||||||
| 1944 | 1944 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — | |||
| 1945 | 1945 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | T–7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1946 | 1946 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5th | — | — | — | |||
| 1947 | 1947 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1948 | 1948 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1949 | 1949 | Arthur Morton | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 12th | — | — | — | ||
| 1950 | 1950 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1951 | 1951 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 11th | — | — | — | |||
| 1952 | 1952 | Murray Warmath | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | ||
| 1953 | 1953 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6th | — | — | — | |||
| 1954 | 1954 | Darrell Royal | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | T–6th | — | — | — | ||
| 1955 | 1955 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6th | — | — | — | |||
| 1956 | 1956 | Wade Walker | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | T–8th | — | — | — | ||
| 1957 | 1957 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | T–3rd | — | 14 | — | |||
| 1958 | 1958 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 12th | — | — | — | |||
| 1959 | 1959 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12th | — | — | — | |||
| 1960 | 1960 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 11th | — | — | — | |||
| Mississippi State Bulldogs | ||||||||||||||
| 1961 | 1961 | Wade Walker | SEC | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | T–10th | — | — | — |
| 1962 | 1962 | Paul E. Davis | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — | ||
| 1963 | 1963 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4th | Won 1963 Liberty Bowl against NC State, 16–12 | — | 11 | |||
| 1964 | 1964 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1965 | 1965 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | T–9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1966 | 1966 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | T–9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1967 | 1967 | Charles Shira | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | T–9th | — | — | — | ||
| 1968 | 1968 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1969 | 1969 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10th | — | — | — | |||
| 1970 | 1970 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | T–7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1971 | 1971 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 10th | — | — | — | |||
| 1972 | 1972 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1973 | 1973 | Bob Tyler | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | T–8th | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | 1974 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | T–4th | Won 1974 Sun Bowl against North Carolina, 26–24 | 17 | 17 | |||
| 1975 | 1975 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | T–9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1976 | 1976 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | T–9th | — | 20 | — | |||
| 1977 | 1977 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | T–9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1978 | 1978 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1979 | 1979 | Emory Bellard | 3 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | ||
| 1980 | 1980 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | T–2nd | Lost 1980 Sun Bowl against Nebraska, 17–31 | 19 | — | |||
| 1981 | 1981 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3rd | Won 1981 Hall of Fame Classic against Kansas, 10–0 | — | 17 | |||
| 1982 | 1982 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1983 | 1983 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1984 | 1984 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | T–9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1985 | 1985 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1986 | 1986 | Rockey Felker | 6 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | T–7th | — | — | — | ||
| 1987 | 1987 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | T–7th | — | — | — | |||
| 1988 | 1988 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10th | — | — | — | |||
| 1989 | 1989 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9th | — | — | — | |||
| 1990 | 1990 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | T–8th | — | — | — | |||
| 1991 | 1991 | Jackie Sherrill | 7 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | T–4th | Lost 1991 Liberty Bowl against Air Force, 15–38 | — | — | ||
| 1992 | 1992 | West | 7 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3rd | Lost 1993 Peach Bowl against North Carolina, 17–21 | 23 | — | ||
| 1993 | 1993 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1994 | 1994 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2nd | Lost 1995 Peach Bowl against NC State, 24–28 | 24 | 25 | |||
| 1995 | 1995 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 4th | — | — | — | |||
| 1996 | 1996 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4th | — | — | — | |||||
| 1997 | 1997 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | T–3rd | — | — | — | |||||
| 1998 | 1998‡ | 8 | 5 | 6 | 2 | T–1st‡ | Lost 1999 Cotton Bowl Classic against Texas, 11–38 | — | — | |||||
| 1999 | 1999 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2nd | Won 1999 Peach Bowl against Clemson, 17–7 | 13 | 12 | |||||
| 2000 | 2000 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | T–3rd | Won 2000 Independence Bowl against Texas A&M, 43–41 (OT) | 24 | 22 | |||||
| 2001 | 2001 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 6th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2002 | 2002 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 5th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2003 | 2003 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 5th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2004 | 2004 | Sylvester Croom | 3 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 6th | — | — | — | ||||
| 2005 | 2005 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 5th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2006 | 2006 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 6th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2007 | 2007 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | T–3rd | Won 2007 Liberty Bowl against UCF, 10–3 | — | — | |||||
| 2008 | 2008 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 6 | T–4th | — | — | — | |||||
| 2009 | 2009 | Dan Mullen | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | T–4th | — | — | — | ||||
| 2010 | 2010 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5th | Won 2011 Gator Bowl against Michigan, 52–14 | 15 | 17 | |||||
| 2011 | 2011 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 5th | Won 2011 Music City Bowl against Wake Forest, 23–17 | — | — | |||||
| 2012 | 2012 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4th | Lost 2013 Gator Bowl against Northwestern, 20–34 | — | — | |||||
| 2013 | 2013 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5th | Won 2013 Liberty Bowl against Rice, 44–7 | — | — | |||||
| 2014 | 2014 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2nd | Lost 2014 Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech, 34–49 | 11 | 12 | |||||
| 2015 | 2015 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | T–5th | Won 2015 Belk Bowl against NC State, 51–28 | — | — | |||||
| 2016 | 2016 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | T–5th | Won 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl against Miami (OH), 17–16 | — | — | |||||
| 2017 | 2017 | Dan Mullen / Greg Knox (interim) | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | T–5th | Won 2017 TaxSlayer Bowl against Louisville, 31–27 | 19 | 20 | ||||
| 2018 | 2018 | Joe Moorhead | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4th | Lost 2019 Outback Bowl against Iowa, 22–27 | — | 25 | ||||
| 2019 | 2019 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5th | Lost 2019 Music City Bowl against Louisville, 28–38 | — | — | |||||
| 2020 | 2020 | Mike Leach | 4 | 7 | 3 | 7 | T–6th | Won 2020 Armed Forces Bowl against Tulsa, 28–26 | — | — | ||||
| 2021 | 2021 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | T–3rd | Lost 2021 Liberty Bowl against Texas Tech, 7–34 | — | — | |||||
| 2022 | 2022 | Mike Leach / Zach Arnett | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | T–3rd | Won 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois, 19–10 | 20 | 19 | ||||
| 2023 | 2023 | Zach Arnett / Greg Knox (interim) | 5 | 7 | 1 | 7 | T–6th | — | — | – | ||||
| Totals | All-time: 594–609–39 | Conference: 211–394–13 | — | Postseason: 15–11 | — | — | ||||||||