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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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A general view of the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium prior to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 28: A general view of the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium prior to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Mississippi State Bulldogs on December 28, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

1963 Liberty Bowl: Mississippi State Bulldogs survive close contest against NC State Wolfpack

Back to the bowl scene for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State missed out on a number of bowl opportunities over the years, but the Mississippi State University Bulldogs finally made it to a bowl game on December 21, 1963.

This time MSU got to face off against the NC State Wolfpack.

And while we know the Liberty Bowl to take place in Memphis, Tennessee these days (and thus being a very short and manageable drive for the vast majority of Mississippi State football fans to make), this game happened all the way up in the part of the country where the United States of America was founded and established.

That’s right, the Liberty Bowl used to take place in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, not Mississippi).

The Bulldogs, led by MSU head football coach Paul Davis, claimed a sizable early lead over NC State, but it wouldn’t be a memorable Mississippi State football game without a little frustration and drama.

The Wolfpack slowly and steadily marched their way back into the game and caused things to be closer than Miss. State football fans likely wanted. The final score ended up at 16-12 with Mississippi State coming out on top even though MSU had a double digit lead early on in the game.

But hey, the Bulldogs won! And it was a noteworthy bowl win for a program that last won a bowl game prior to the United State entering into the fray of World War II.

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