Live Updates: Mike Leach, Mississippi State Face Texas Tech in AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Mississippi State (7-5) aims to go out with a bang in 2021 as it faces Texas Tech (6-6) in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in the 2021 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Mississippi State is coming off a disappointing 31-21 loss to Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, while Texas Tech heads to Memphis coming off of a painful 27-24 loss to No. 6-ranked Baylor, which will face Mississippi State's final regular-season opponent in the Sugar Bowl.

Texas Tech has dropped four of its last five games, so in a way, it was a positive for the Red Raiders to have played a high-level opponent so closely, and it will be interesting to see just how much of a fight they can put up as interim head coach Sonny Cumbie goes up against his own former coach in Mississippi State's Mike Leach.

You can find the latest updates on the score, big plays and stats right here throughout gameday. Kickoff is set for 5:45 p.m. CT in Memphis.

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First Quarter:

- Starters Randy Charlton, Jalen Green, Scott Lashley, Jaden Crumedy and Shawn Preston Jr., Aaron Odom, Malik Heath, Dylan Lawrence and Kyle Cass are unavailable

Mississippi State has won the coin toss.

The Bulldogs have elected to defer, so we'll see the Texas Tech offense hit the field first.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 28, 2021

Texas Tech running back SaRodorick Thompson finds open grass and slips some tackles for a 32-yard gain.

Red Raiders in Mississippi State territory on their first drive.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 28, 2021

Not a great showing from the Mississippi State defense on Texas Tech's opening drive.

Tahj Brooks rushes to the left for a 19-yard touchdown and the Red Raiders lead the Bulldogs, 7-0 just over two minutes into the game.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 28, 2021

Will Rogers completes his first pass of the day to Austin Williams for 11 yards, and Mississippi State has crossed into TTU territory.

That was Rogers' second attempt of the drive.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Rogers' final two passes fall incomplete after a rushing attempt by Dillon Johnson that lost four yards and Mississippi State punts it away.

Texas Tech with an opportunity to get to the scoreboard a second time.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

DeMonte Russell is down on the field and holding his leg.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

And with that 12-yard rush from Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech makes its way to Mississippi State's 20 and the Red Raiders are threatening to score again.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Garibay's 31-yard field goal attempt is good.

Texas Tech leads Mississippi State, 10-0 with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Two big completions for Will Rogers -- one to Tulu Griffin and one to Makai Polk and Mississippi State is in Texas Tech territory at the 47.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

That will do it for the first quarter.

Texas Tech leads Mississippi State, 10-0 with the Bulldogs offense at the Red Raiders' 20 as they look to put their first points of the evening on the board.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Second quarter:

Will Rogers gets one to Rara Thomas for 17 yards as Mississippi State finds the end zone for the first time of the night and Noland McCord's PAT is good.

Bulldogs trail the Red Raiders, 10-7 less than one minute into the second quarter.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Big three-and-out for the Mississippi State defense -- Emmanuel Forbes with a tackle for loss and Nathaniel Watson with the sack on Donovan Smith.

Texas Tech on to punt.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Mississippi State RG Kwatrivous "Dollar Bill" Johnson limping off the field with trainers.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Appeared Mississippi State got Texas Tech to jump on fourth-and-short, but it's a snap infraction against center LaQuinston Sharp instead.
— Theo DeRosa (@Theo_DeRosa) December 29, 2021

Heck of a catch and throw from Donovan Smith to Trey Cleveland for 18 yards and Texas Tech makes its way to the Mississippi State 40.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Texas Tech fumbles -- forced by Fred Peters who came up with the big hit and recovered by DeMonte Russell.

Changes the momentum some as Tech was moving into Mississippi State territory.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

After further review, the ruling is overturned. Incomplete pass. https://t.co/j36M3Waf5E
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Muffed.

Texas Tech has the ball just outside of the Mississippi State end zone. Just brutal for the Bulldogs seconds before halftime.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Garibay's 26-yard field goal is good.

Texas Tech leads Mississippi State, 13-7 with 13 seconds to go until halftime.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Halftime here in Memphis -- Mississippi State trails Texas Tech, 13-7 in what's been a lower-scoring affair than we thought it would be.

Texas Tech totals 252 yards of total offense (192 rushing, 60 passing) to Mississippi State's 126 yards (103 passing, 25 rushing).
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

QBs at the half...

Will Rogers, MSU: 10-of-17, 103 yds, TD

Donovan Smith, TTU: 7-of-16, 60 yds
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Makai Polk has become just the fifth player in SEC history to reach 100 or more receptions in a season.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Texas Tech has now built a substantial lead over Mississippi State.

Smith hits Sparkman for the 14-yard touchdown and it is Red Raiders over Bulldogs, 27-7 at the end of the third quarter.

We've seen State make comeback magic in the fourth quarter, can they do it again?
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Bad gets worse.

Will Rogers took a deep shot into double coverage and paid the price with an interception.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

Another Texas Tech touchdown.

The Red Raiders lead the Bulldogs, 34-7 with under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. It's been an ugly game for Mississippi State in just about every aspect.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) December 29, 2021

FINAL: TEXAS TECH 34, MISSISSIPPI STATE 7