Cowbell Corner

Mississippi State's season may be about to be resurrected

Based on reports, the Bulldogs might receive a bowl invitation after other bowl-eligible teams have declined their own invitations.
Taylor Hodges|
Mississippi State safety Jahron Manning (13) and safety Brylan Lanier (3) celebrate during a college football game between Mississippi State and Ole Miss at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State 38-19 in the Egg Bowl.
Mississippi State safety Jahron Manning (13) and safety Brylan Lanier (3) celebrate during a college football game between Mississippi State and Ole Miss at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State 38-19 in the Egg Bowl. | Ayrton Breckenridge/Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State football's season might not be over afterall.

The Bulldogs' failed to reach six wins and bowl eligibility after a 38-19 loss to Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl almost two weeks ago. But they might still get an invite

Per On3's Brett McMurphy, bowl-eligible teams Kansas State and Iowa State are electing to not play in bowl games. That opens the door for a five-win team to play in a bowl game and, per McMurphy, Mississippi State is an option.

In situations like this, at least since 2010, the NCAA selects teams based on APR (academic progress rate). McMurphy reports that the top five choices, based on their APR is: Rice, Auburn, UCF, Mississippi State and Florida State.

And it wouldn't be the first time Mississippi State is selected as one of those teams.

History of five-win teams in bowl games

Since the implementation of using APR to determine which five win teams receive bowl invites, only six teams have ever gone to a bowl with five wins.

2015

Nebraska (def. UCLA in Foster Farms Bowl)
Minnesota (def. Central Michigan in Quick Lane Bowl)
San Jose State (def. Georgia State in Cure Bowl)

2016

Mississippi State (def. Miami (OH) in St. Petersburg Bowl)
North Texas (lost to Army in Heart of Dallas Bowl)

2023

Minnesota (def. Bowling Green in Quick Lane Bowl)

How realistic is this?

Don't start making hotel reservations, but there are probably phone calls and texts being sent to Mississippi State players to be ready, just in case.

Based on McMurphy's reporting, Mississippi State is the fourth choice behind Rice, Auburn and UCF.

Auburn is the middle of a coaching change with South Florida coach Alex Golesh taking over for the fired Hugh Freeze. But Golesh and the Bulls are headed to a bowl game of their own.

Could Auburn realistically accept a bowl invitation?

That would leave Mississippi State needing either Rice or UCF turning down a bowl invitation (which why would they?) or the NCAA picking Mississippi State because of a potential, larger viewing audience.

Should Mississippi State accept a bowl invite?

Absolutely.

There's a lot of positives to going to a bowl game, from monetary to recruiting to rewarding seniors.

Could it be a little more complicated with the defensive coordinator changes and players declaring for the transfer portal? Yes.

But it would be worth it, especially to Mississippi State fans who would like to see Kamario Taylor in action one more time.

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas, but he was taken to Razorback pep rallies at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth before he could walk. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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