Mississippi State’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl Showdown: What This Game Could Mean for Their Future

Mississippi State’s football season just took an unexpected turn—and honestly, it’s a bit of a feel-good twist in what’s been a rollercoaster year. Despite finishing with a 5-7 record, the Bulldogs snagged an invitation to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, set for January 2nd in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they’ll face off against a tough ACC opponent. How did this happen? Well, a couple of teams—Kansas State and Iowa State—bowed out amid coaching shakeups, opening a door that MSU stepped right through, thanks in part to their solid APR score of 979. It’s a fresh opportunity, especially for Coach Jeff Lebby in his second year, marking the program’s first bowl appearance since 2022. This kind of unexpected bowl berth isn’t just a game-changer—it’s a statement that grit and readiness can still make the headlines. LEARN MORE

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football will play in a bowl game after all.

The Bulldogs, despite going 5-7, accepted an invitation to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. They’ll play against an ACC opponent on Jan. 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

MSU was able to get in a bowl because of teams opting out and APR tiebreakers. Kansas State and Iowa State, who both are undergoing coaching changes, opted out of bowl games. MSU’s APR is 979.

It’s the first bowl game for Mississippi State and second-year coach Jeff Lebby since the 2022 season.

This story will be updated.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football will play in Duke’s Mayo Bowl