Editor’s note: This is the fourth installment of our “Scouting the schedule” series, which breaks down every game on Mississippi State’s 2022 football schedule. Part 3 detailed the Bulldogs’ SEC opener against LSU, while Part 5 will analyze MSU’s rematch with Texas A&M.
After back-to-back road games at Arizona and LSU, Mississippi State will get about as much of a break as the Bulldogs can get.
No, MSU won’t have a bye week, but facing Bowling Green at home is just about the next-best thing.
The Bulldogs will take on one of the worst teams in FBS with a prime chance to relax in the first of three home games. And Bowling Green is neither Texas A&M nor Arkansas: The Falcons’ four wins last season were their most since 2016.
Mississippi State will certainly hope for a more comfortable win than its one-point margin of victory against Bowling Green back in 2013. But that was a 10-win Falcons team. This one isn’t.
Mississippi State will face Bowling Green on Sept. 24 at Davis Wade Stadium.
Bowling Green quick facts
2021 record: 4-8 (2-6 MAC)
Coach: Scot Loeffler
ESPN Football Power Index: No. 125
All-time series: 1-0, Mississippi State leads
Last meeting: Oct. 12, 2013
History
Mississippi State eked out a victory in the only meeting between the two teams. The Bulldogs beat the Falcons 21-20 during the 2013 season. MSU shut out Bowling Green in the fourth quarter after the visitors cut an 11-point lead to just one late in the third period.
2021 season
Bowling Green’s 2021 season started out with a 38-6 loss at Tennessee, and it didn’t get much better.
The Falcons struggled to a 4-8 campaign and a paltry 2-6 record in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo and Toledo represented Bowling Green’s only conference win.
BGSU did manage to eke out a win at Minnesota on Sept. 25 in Minneapolis. The Falcons’ other win came against Murray State.
Kent State, Akron, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Miami (Ohio) all dealt Bowling Green losses in conference play.
Quarterback Matt McDonald returns after throwing for 2,555 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2021. His top targets — Tyrone Broden (596 yards, five touchdowns), Austin Osborne (546 yards, five touchdowns) and Christian Sims (418 yards, five touchdowns) — all return this season.
Running backs Terion Stewart (412 yards) and Nick Mosley (336 yards) are back as well.
Defensive lineman Karl Brooks, who led his team with 12.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, is back for his senior season. So is inside linebacker Darren Anders, who had 124 tackles — nine for loss — and three sacks.
Key additions
Ranked No. 109 in 247 Sports’ composite rankings, Bowling Green’s signing class sits toward the bottom of FBS.
The Falcons have 10 three-star commits, none of whom rank in the top 1,000 nationally. Their top commits are both from Michigan: defensive lineman Davonte Miles and wide receiver Jalen Holly.
Bowling Green brings in a trio of three-star transfers, led by Wake Forest linebacker D.J. Taylor.
Cincinnati tackle Marcelo Mendiola and Georgia State safety Chris Bacon are also rated three stars
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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