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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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Quarterback Chris Relf #36 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs
JACKSONVILLE, FL – JANUARY 01: Quarterback Chris Relf #36 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs passes against the Michigan Wolverines during the Gator Bowl at EverBank Field on January 1, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida (Photo by Rick Dole/Getty Images) /

2011 Gator Bowl: Mississippi State Bulldogs beat up the Michigan Wolverines

In his second season as the head coach in Starkville, Dan Mullen guided the Mississippi State football team to a dominant Gator Bowl beatdown over the Michigan Wolverines.

Mullen’s Mississippi State Bulldogs simply could not be stopped and the MSU defense absolutely dominated the Wolverines’ offense, halting Denard Robinson at seemingly every turn in the second half.

Initially, this game looked like it might be a shootout as Michigan and State traded scores in the first quarter. But MSU really ran away with this game thanks to a dominant second quarter showing. Mississippi State put up 21 points in the second quarter to jump out to a 31-14 lead heading into halftime.

And in the third quarter, a pair of Vick Ballard touchdown runs really put the game out of reach with a 45-14 score. Chris Relf lobbed another touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and the Bulldogs bulldozed right through Michigan to the tune of 52-14.

Dan Mullen’s first bowl appearance resulted in a win and the Bulldogs looked really solid in the process. MSU capped the season off at 9-4 and State’s future sure seemed bright as the Bulldogs beat up on one of the Big Ten’s power programs.

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