STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State coach Mike Leach has signed a two-year contract extension through 2025 after leading the Bulldogs to their second consecutive bowl appearance.
MSU football spokesman Brandon Langlois on Wednesday confirmed the extension, which was initially reported by several media outlets.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Donovan Smith threw for 252 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score, and Texas Tech beat Mississippi State 34-7 in the Liberty Bowl on Tuesday night.
Tahj Brooks rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown and SaRodorick Thompson ran for 80 yards and a score for the Red Raiders (7-6), who finished with a winning record for the first time since 2015.
While Mike Leach certainly has overhauled Mississippi State's football program in two short seasons, some of his fingerprints remain on Texas Tech years after he was fired by the Red Raiders.
Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech (6-6) vs. Mississippi State (7-5), Dec. 29, 6:45 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Line: Mississippi State by 10 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Former Miami coach Manny Diaz was hired as defensive coordinator at Penn State less than a week after he was fired by the Hurricanes.
Diaz replaces Brent Pry, who left Penn State after eight seasons as coaching the defense to become Virginia Tech’s head coach.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Snoop Conner ran for two touchdowns and No. 8 Mississippi scored 21 straight points to beat Mississippi State 31-21 on Thursday night in a windy, rainy and cold Egg Bowl.
A look at Week 13 in the Southeastern Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 8 Mississippi (9-2, 5-2) at Mississippi State (7-4, 4-3), Thursday night.
Eye-popping offensive numbers have sparked improvements by No. 8 Mississippi and Mississippi State and make their in-state rivalry showdown even more intriguing.
The Rebels (9-2, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) and Bulldogs (7-4, 4-3) both bring winning streaks into the 94th Egg Bowl.
No. 8 Mississippi (9-2, 5-2 SEC, No. 9 CFP) at Mississippi State (7-4, 4-3), Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EST (ESPN).
Line: Mississippi State by 2 ½ according to FanDuel.com Sportsbook.
Winning rivalry games comes with bragging rights and other rewards, but Alabama coach Nick Saban knows what losing them brings.
“If you don’t have success in this game, I don’t care what else you accomplish in the season, there’s always a ‘but,’" Saban said.
The best college football rivalries can change over time depending on the state of the programs involved.
Go back 25 or 30 years and Miami-Florida State probably would have been near the top of most lists.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers broke Dak Prescott’s single-season program record for passing touchdowns on the Bulldogs’ first drive Saturday against Tennessee State.
Mississippi State is playing its best football, and coach Mike Leach wants his team to keep their feet on the gas.
The Bulldogs (6-4) have won three of four and are coming off their biggest comeback in school history against then-No.
Alabama coach Nick Saban and Georgia's Kirby Smart are not exactly known as quarterback whisperers, or the types of cutting-edge offensive innovators that get a ton of attention in college football these days.
WACO, Texas (AP) — Gerry Bohanon threw a touchdown pass and ran for two scores, Baylor’s defense constantly pressured Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler and the No. 18 Bears beat No. 4 Oklahoma 27-14 on Saturday to end the Sooners’ nation’s-best 17-game winning streak.
STARS
—Emory Jones, Florida, accounted for 550 yards and seven TDs in the Gators' come-from-behind, 70-52 victory over lower-division Samford.
—Will Rogers, Mississippi State, threw for 415 yards and six TDs to help the Bulldogs beat No.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Will Rogers threw for 415 yards and six touchdowns, and Mississippi State beat No. 16 Auburn 43-34 on Saturday.
Auburn (6-4, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) scored touchdowns on its first four possessions and led 28-3 midway through the second quarter.
Mississippi State (5-4, 3-3 SEC) at No. 16 Auburn (6-3, 3-2, No. 17 CFP), Saturday at noon EST (ESPN).
Line: Auburn by 5 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Auburn Tigers are trying to find their way back to the end zone while Mississippi State just wants to make its field goals when needed.
The 16th-ranked Tigers (6-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference, No.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas’ 31-28 win over Mississippi State on Saturday was not, as coach Sam Pittman said, the Super Bowl.
But for a team two years removed from back-to-back 2-10 seasons, the worst two records of Razorbacks football since World War II, becoming bowl-eligible, in the fashion they did, was high on Pittman’s wishlist.
Tennessee (4-4, 2-3 SEC) at No. 12 Kentucky (6-2, 4-2 SEC, No. 18 CFP), Saturday at 7 p.m. EDT (SEC).
Line: Kentucky by 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Either No. 18 Kentucky or Tennessee will end a two-game losing streak when they meet this weekend.
Kentucky (6-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) might have more reason for concern following defeats at top-ranked Georgia and unranked Mississippi State.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A year ago, Mississippi State became the answer to a not-so-funny Arkansas trivia question.
What school did the Razorbacks beat to end a three-plus season Southeastern Conference losing streak?
Will Rogers has quickly developed into the type of quarterback Mike Leach envisioned to run his pass-heavy Air Raid scheme at Mississippi State.
Rogers turned in a nearly perfect performance in his last game, completing 36 of 39 passes.
Michigan State might be fortunate not to be ranked No. 2.
Coming off a big win against Michigan, the fifth-ranked Spartans are heading to Purdue, a program with a long history of being one of the college football's most prolific giant killers.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Kenneth Walker ran for 197 yards and five touchdowns, helping No. 8 Michigan State top No. 6 Michigan 37-33 in a thrilling comeback victory Saturday.
The Spartans (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) trailed by nine at halftime and 30-14 with 6:47 left in the third quarter before Walker boosted his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers could do no wrong Saturday night, setting an Southeastern Conference record for completion percentage to help the Bulldogs steamroll their way to another big victory.
No. 12 Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (4-3, 2-2), Saturday at 7:30 p.m. EDT (SEC).
Line: Kentucky by 1 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops wanted the No. 12 Wildcats to keep their edge during the week off and they’ll need against high-flying Mississippi State.
The Wildcats will need to be at their best in all phases if they hope to end a long drought at Mississippi State.
Things to watch in Week 9 in the Southeastern Conference:
GAMES OF THE WEEK
No. 10 Mississippi (6-1, 3-1) visits No. 18 Auburn (5-2, 2-1) in the SEC's only Top 25 matchup, while six teams take a break Saturday.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Will Rogers had a career day at quarterback for Mississippi State, but his coach Mike Leach was not overly satisfied.
Rogers threw a career-best four touchdowns, two to wide receiver Makai Polk, and Mississippi State was never challenged in a 45-6 Southeastern Conference win over Vanderbilt Saturday afternoon.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Vanderbilt Commodores are back home with the chance to show much they've learned from a missed opportunity.
The Commodores blew a lead in the final minute with a chance to hand first-year coach Clark Lea his first Southeastern Conference victory.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Aidan O’Connell threw for 375 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, David Bell had a career-best 240 yards receiving and Purdue continued its recent mastery over No. 2 Iowa with a 24-7 victory Saturday.
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Nick Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide had a long week. Seven days filled with doubt, disgust and uncharacteristic angst.
But a week after Alabama lost at Texas A&M, Bryce Young threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns and the No.
Alabama hopes its wakeup call restored the focus and execution the Crimson Tide has lacked at times this season.
The fifth-ranked Crimson Tide certainly can’t afford another falloff with Mississippi State ready to pounce at home.
No. 5 Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) at Mississippi State (3-2, 1-1), Saturday at 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN).
Line: Alabama by 16 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
With one Small kick and a rather sizable upset, Texas A&M caused quite a shakeup in the Southeastern Conference Western Division.
The No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press college football poll has been in the possession of just a few elite teams over the last six seasons.
Alabama (63 times), Clemson (23), Ohio State (10) and LSU (eight) were the only teams to reach No.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and ran for score late in the fourth quarter as No. 7 Cincinnati capitalized on its big opportunity and beat No. 9 Notre Dame 24-13 on Saturday in a game the Bearcats hope can be the centerpiece of College Football Playoff resume.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Desperate for a boost after consecutive close losses, Mississippi State found a huge one by knocking off the 15th-ranked Texas A&M on Saturday night.
Will Rogers threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns and Nathan Pickering sacked Zach Calzada in the end zone late for a safety in Mississippi State's 26-22 victory.
Louisiana Tech (2-2) at No. 23 North Carolina State (3-1), Saturday at 6 p.m. EDT (ESPN+/ACC Network Extra).
Line: N.C. State by 18 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Mississippi State (2-2, 0-1 SEC) at No. 15 Texas A&M (3-1, 0-1), Saturday at 7 p.m. EDT (SECN).
Line: Texas A&M by 7 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — No one is disputing that quarterback Zach Calzada must improve if No. 15 Texas A&M hopes to bounce back from its first loss when the Aggies host Mississippi State on Saturday night.