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Mississippi State bowl game history: Every bowl game the Bulldogs have played in

By Ethan Lee

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: Nathaniel Watson #14, Will Rogers III #2, and Jett Johnson #44 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs wave a Mike flag in memory of Mike Leach after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini 19-10 in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: Nathaniel Watson #14, Will Rogers III #2, and Jett Johnson #44 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs wave a Mike flag in memory of Mike Leach after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini 19-10 in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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Dezmond Sherrod #48 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates a victory over the UCF Knights
MEMPHIS, TN – DECEMBER 29: Dezmond Sherrod #48 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates a victory over the UCF Knights on December 29, 2007 during the 49th Annual Autozone Liberty Bowl at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The Bulldogs beat the Knights 10-3. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /

2007 Liberty Bowl: Mississippi State football beats UCF Knights in Memphis

Mississippi State is back in Memphis. After years of missing out on bowl appearances, the Bulldogs got back to the Liberty Bowl under Sylvester Croom’s leadership. On December 29, 2007, in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, the Mississippi State Bulldogs went out and beat the UCF Knights.

But this game wasn’t exactly much of a barn burner. Neither the Bulldogs or the Knights showed up with much offensive firepower.

In the Liberty Bowl, UCF struck first, knocking a field goal through in the second quarter. And then MSU managed to get a field goal of its own to tie things up at 3-3 before halftime. And then there wasn’t much scoring for a while.

State needed a pick late in the fourth quarter to set up a 1-yard touchdown run from Anthony Dixon. And that’s how MSU beat UCF 10-3.

Other than that? There was no offense. None whatsoever. The Bulldogs and Knights struggled all day to move the ball. Mississippi State’s Derek Pegues ended up being named the MVP because of the interception that set up MSU’s win.

It was an impressive sort of performance from the defensive side of things and that sort of resilience helped Sylvester Croom’s Bulldogs record a final record of 8-5. Unfortunately for Croom, this was his one and only shot at a bowl game. His teams prior to this failed to get to bowl eligibility and his next team ended up missing out on bowl eligibility.

And so, enter Dan Mullen:

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