Gameday: September 3, 2022

Time: 6:30 pm

TV: ESPNU

Opponent: Mississippi State University

Location: Starkville, MS

Enrollment: 23,086

Mascot: "Bully" the Bulldog

Notable Alumni: Dak Prescott, Marsha Blackburn, Rafael Palmeiro

2021 Record: 7-6 (4-4). Lost to Texas Tech 34-7 in the Liberty Bowl

Record vs Memphis All Time: 34-11

Most Recent: Memphis won 31-29 on 9/18/21 at Liberty Bowl Stadium, ending a 12 game losing streak to the Bulldogs.

Returning Starters: Offense (8) Defense (8)

Key Losses: WR Makai Polk, LT Charles Cross, DB Martin Emerson

Team Strength: QB and Defensive Line. Returning Quarterback Will Rogers, set numerous single season records for a State QB last season. A lot of that has to due with being the quarterback of a Mike Leach coached football team and his Air Raid offense, but Rogers is a strong quarterback regardless. The defensive line returns all of its starters from a year ago and gets back Jordan Davis who missed all of last season with a knee injury.

Team Weakness: Defensive Secondary. Martin Emerson is off to the NFL after being one of the better DB's in the SEC. Safety Fred Peters is also gone. Finding capable replacements for both is imperative for MSU to be relevant in the SEC.

Summary: MSU will quite possibly be the Tigers toughest opponent this season. Likely to be ranked just outside of the top 25 to start the season, the Bulldogs have the experience to be a solid team in the SEC. However, with questions in the secondary and Mike Leach's Air Raid offenses ability to go silent at times, the Bulldogs still have an uphill battle in the SEC. This would definitely be an early season upset if the Tigers were to go into Starkville and pull off a win, and would give them some major momentum to start the season with. Go Tigers!