Mississippi State football: close Games under Dan Mullen

The Numbers Game: how Mississippi State fares in close games under Dan Mullen.

Here’s my criteria for a “close game” in this particular post: the game is within a touchdown (as much as 8 points) and the team who is behind has the football with under one minute to go. You could say this is a really close game, or a “down-to-the-wire” game. Whatever you want to call it, that’s what we’re going to look at today….

…..because three of the seven games Dan Mullen has coached against Auburn fall into this category, and this Saturday we may have another one.

Note: this only accounts for the above criteria in regulation. If the game was tied in the final minute of regulation (like the 2011 Louisiana Tech game or 2013 Egg Bowl) and went into overtime than it is not included. Nor is the overtime period(s). 

2009

Loss vs. LSU, 30-26.

2010

Loss vs. Auburn, 17-14. 

After Auburn missed a field goal, MSU took over at their own 20 yard line with just under two minutes remaining. Chris Relf drove the Bulldogs down the field, converting on a 4th and 4 and 3rd and 14 along the way. He got to the Auburn 41 yard line when his 2nd down pass to Leon Berry was dropped within field goal range. With just 22 seconds to go, MSU turned the ball over on downs.

Win at Florida, 10-7

MSU had a clock-eating five minute drive which ended on a great Heath Hutchins punt that downed Florida inside their own five yard line with 1:56 to play. From there, John Brantley executed a 14 play drive that resulted in a missed 42 yard field goal at the end of regulation.

Win vs. Kentucky, 24-17

State was able to pin UK at their own 10 yard line with four and a half minutes in the game. The Wildcats then drove down the field on a 17 play drive that ate up almost the entire clock. They reached the MSU 20 yard line where they faced a 4th and 10. Mike Hartline threw towards the endzone only to have it intercepted by Johnthan Banks at the one yard line to seal the game.

Loss vs. Arkansas, 38-31 in OT

With two minutes remaining in the game and down 31-28, MSU forced a fumble by Knile Davis. The Bulldogs took over at their own 46 and were able to run the ball behind Vick Ballard, and secured a 25 yard field goal by Derek DePasquale to tie the game. Ultimately, MSU lost in overtime, but they were able to push it to OT in the final minute of regulation.

2011

Loss at Auburn, 41-34

2012

N/A

2013

Loss at Auburn, 24-20

Up 20-17, MSU punted the ball with two minutes remaining, and Auburn started their eventual game-winning drive on their own 12 yard line. Nick Marshall proceeded to pick MSU’s prevent defense apart and score a touchdown on a pass with 18 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs were only able to get off one play offensively before the game ended.

More from Mississippi State Football

• Meeting the Opponent: Week 4 – South Carolina Gamecocks
• Mississippi State football vs LSU: The good, bad, and ugly
• The Wednesday Wrap: Maybe Mississippi State Football Coach Zach Arnett shouldn’t do it his way
• Mississippi State football history vs. South Carolina: Records, streaks, and more
• Mississippi State football bowl projections after Bulldogs crushed by LSU

Win vs. Bowling Green, 21-20

With just three seconds remaining in the game, Bowling Green forced a turnover on downs by MSU at their own 29 yard line. They ran one pass play with a couple of laterals which ended in a Tolando Cleveland fumble recovery.

Win vs. Kentucky, 28-22

In an eerie Thursday night game, UK hung around and made it a tight game. They were driving down the field under two minutes when Kendrick Market made a game-saving tackle in the open field. Ultimately the drive fizzled out at the MSU 29 yard line when the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs with 21 seconds left.

2014

Win at LSU, 34-29

It wasn’t supposed to be this way after getting a 34-10 lead, but LSU found a way to pull within five points and heaved a Hail Mary throw towards the endzone as time expired, but it was intercepted by Will Redmond to end the game.

Win vs. Arkansas, 17-10

Up by a touchdown, the Bulldogs punted with just over two minutes to go and Arkansas started their final drive at their own 18 yard line. Hunter Henry made things really interesting with an improbable 36 yard grab at midfield, and then followed it up with a 24 yard reception to get the Hogs to the MSU 16 with 25 seconds left. On the next play, Brandon Allen threw into the endzone but it was intercepted by Will Redmond to seal the victory for the Dawgs.

2015

Loss vs. LSU, 21-19

With 1:32 to play, MSU started the final drive from their own 11 yard line. Nine plays later the Bulldogs were at the LSU 29 yard line with 16 seconds left. A delay of game penalty pushed it back to the 34, and an incomplete pass forced a 52 yard field goal attempt that sailed wide right.

Win at Arkansas, 51-50

In a wild affair that appeared to be a game where the team who had the ball last would win, that proved not to be the case. After MSU scored a touchdown to make it 51-50, Arkansas had three minutes to get points. They drove down to the Mississippi State 12 yard line where they ran it up the middle a couple of times to set up a chip-shot field goal attempt….but it was blocked by Beniquez Brown.

2016

Loss vs. South Alabama, 21-20

You know what happened.

Final Tally

When MSU is down (on offense): 1-5 (that one was vs. Arkansas in 2010 when they tied the game but ultimately lost in overtime….so they’ve never won the game)

When MSU is up (on defense): 7-1

Conclusion: I’d much rather be on defense.