The 2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs played their home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by first-year head coach Joe Moorhead. Mississippi State subsequently vacated all eight victories due to NCAA sanctions due to academic misconduct involving 10 players and a tutor in online coursework.
Preseason
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Lott TrophyJeffery SimmonsDTJRRimington TrophyElgton JenkinsCSRChuck Bednarik AwardMontez SweatDESRJeffery SimmonsDTJRMaxwell AwardNick FitzgeraldQBSRDavey O'Brien AwardNick FitzgeraldQBSRDoak Walker AwardAeris WilliamsRBSRBronko Nagurski TrophyJeffery SimmonsDTJRMontez SweatDESROutland TrophyJeffery SimmonsDTJRLou Groza AwardJace ChristmannKSOPaul Hornung AwardDeddrick ThomasWR/KRJRWuerffel TrophyGerri GreenLBSRTed Hendricks AwardMontez SweatDESRJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardNick Fitzgerald QBSRManning AwardNick FitzgeraldQBSR
SEC media poll The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Bulldogs predicted to finish in third place in the West Division.
Preseason All-SEC teams The Bulldogs had five players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
Offense
3rd team
Nick Fitzgerald – QB
Aeris Williams – RB
Defense
1st team
Montez Sweat – DL
Jeffery Simmons – DL
3rd team
Mark McLaurin – DB
Schedule All eight victories were subsequently vacated as part of NCAA sanctions due to academic misconduct involving a tutor and online coursework.
Schedule source:
Rankings
Game summaries
Stephen F. Austin
At Kansas State
Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald made his first appearance on the football fields since November 2017, when a foot injury sidelined him for the season and a 1-game suspension kept him out of the season opener. Fitzgerald threw for 154 yards with two touchdowns and ran for another 159 yards. Mississippi State compiled a total of 538 yards of total offense where Kansas State only managed 213.
Kansas State continued with its two-quarterback system, switching snaps between Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton. Kansas State running back Alex Barnes managed 75 yards rushing, but the Wildcats fell short to lose the game 31-10.
Louisiana
Statistics LouisianaMississippi State First downs 13 29 Total yards 310 607 Rushing yards 65 331 Passing yards 245 276 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 27:01 32:59
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Passing Andre Nunez 21–29, 224 yards Rushing Trey Ragas 7 carries, 49 yards Receiving Keenan Barnes 4 receptions, 76 yardsMississippi State Passing Nick Fitzgerald 14–21, 243 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Nick Fitzgerald 15 carries, 107 yards, 4 TDs Receiving Keith Mixon 4 receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
At Kentucky
Florida
Auburn
At LSU
Texas A&M
Louisiana Tech
At Alabama
Sources:
Statistics Statistics Mississippi StateAlabama First downs 6 23 Total yards 169 305 Rushes–yards 30–44 45–142 Passing yards 125 163 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–20–0 17–27–1 Time of possession 26:05 33:55 Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi State Passing Nick Fitzgerald 11–20, 125 yards Rushing Kylin Hill 7 carries, 47 yards Receiving Deddrick Thomas 2 receptions, 25 yardsAlabama Passing Tua Tagovailoa 14–21, 164 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Josh Jacobs 20 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jerry Jeudy 6 receptions, 45 yards
Arkansas
At Ole Miss
Vs. Iowa (Outback Bowl)
Source: Box Score
In a back-and-forth game, Iowa held on to defeat SEC opponent Mississippi State. Senior Jake Gervase made a critical interception in the end zone, and batted down a fourth down pass to end the Bulldogs' hopes. The victory was Ferentz's fifth January bowl win and eighth overall bowl victory.
Statistics MSIOWA First downs 15 11 Total yards 342 199 Rushing yards 190 15 Passing yards 152 214 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 33:34 26:26
Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi State Passing Nick Fitzgerald 14/32, 152 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Nick Fitzgerald 20 carries, 103 yards, TD Receiving Aeris Williams 3 receptions, 19 yardsIowa Passing Nate Stanley 21/31, 214 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Toren Young 3 carries, 7 yards Receiving Nick Easley 8 receptions, 104 yards, 2 TD
Players drafted into the NFL
1 19 Jeffery Simmons DT Tennessee Titans 1 26 Montez Sweat DE Washington Redskins 1 Johnathan Abram S Oakland Raiders 2 44 Elgton Jenkins C Green Bay Packers 6 199 Gerri Green LB Indianapolis Colts
References