Mississippi State fell to 5-8 to end the 2025 season, losing 43-29 against Wake Forest in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday. Head coach Jeff Lebby and his group were eager to play in the postseason after a difficult 1-7 finish to SEC play, but failed to capitalize on a late push against the Demon Deacons with another fourth quarter to forget.
Here are the moments that mattered as the Bulldogs ended their campaign in Charlotte.
Through the heart of the return team
The Bulldogs came out looking for a big play, and got it with a downfield shot from freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor to Brenen Thompson. They had to settle for a field goal, though, which set the tone for a slow night on offense with several trips into enemy territory ending short of the end zone. Four field goals and a turnover on downs wasn’t enough to keep pace, even with a decent first half from the defense, and a big reason why was the jumpstart Wake Forest got on their first possession.
It took just one play for the Deacons to respond to the Bulldog’s opening score.
Koredell Bartley took Kyle Ferrie’s line-drive kickoff at the goal line and decided to take advantage of the head start on the coverage team. Instead of gaining an extra 10 yards or so, Bartley was able to split the Bulldogs and pull away for six points.
The Deacons did get the offense on the field in their two-point conversion attempt, making it 8-3, and did not surrender the lead for the rest of the game.
Quarterback Robby Ashford led a touchdown drive to close out the first quarter, and continued to make plays despite several incompletions and errant throws.
Thompson makes history
One of the bigger storylines heading into the game was the chance for Thompson to not only surpass 1,000 yards on the season, but take the all-time program record for single season yards through the air.
Thompson accomplished that feat, becoming the fourth Bulldog to hit 1,000 for the season and taking the record with 1,054 for the season.
The moment came as MSU was trying to take advantage of a change in momentum. Taylor ended the third quarter with a touchdown to make it a 10-point game, and Thompson hauled in a 15-yard pass to give the Bulldogs another shot on their next drive. Taylor then hit Sanfrisco Magee for a 42-yard catch-and-run score, cutting the deficit to just three points.
Through the heart of the defense
The Bulldog defense could not get a stop on Wake Forest’s next drive, but a turn in fortune on special teams kept them alive. A blocked point-after attempt was returned for two points by Kelley Jones, keeping the game in reach with a seven-point deficit.
MSU’s offense, however, quickly went three-and-out. Forced into action again, the defense set up for a crucial third down expecting a pass for the sticks, but instead saw a shovel pass to running back Ty Clark III.
The Deacons risked giving up possession with the play, but when Clark turned to run, the entire middle of the field opened up for him. The Bulldogs didn’t win on the line, and the second level was focused wide on the receivers, giving Clark a highway directly to the end zone for a 62-yard catch and run.
Taylor goes down
The darkest moment of the bowl game came near the very end, with the contest all but decided and the first-team offense back on the field to try and make it a one-score game as fast as possible.
Taylor again had to bail out of a broken pocket, scrambling for a first down before taking a shot to the lower left leg while it was planted. He bent awkwardly with the momentum of the hit before staying down, writhing in pain and holding his left leg.
Because of the nature of the hit and the absence of a good camera angle of it, many from the stands and press box to the television audience feared the worst. Those fears were exacerbated when Taylor left on the medical cart, but after examination by the team’s trainers, there was relief, as it appears the injury was nothing serious.
“Initial reports have been good,” Lebby said. “We’ll continue to obviously evaluate, get more information tomorrow.”
Taylor was later seen walking, moving on his own without a brace or support, and his family posted on social media to confirm that he was feeling good after the game.
The game was meant to be a glimpse into the future of Mississippi State, but like many attempts to look ahead, it was bogged down with the issues of the present. The defense could not stop the run or consistently pressure the quarterback, special teams were prone to coverage mistakes and the offense failed to protect the quarterback or establish the run.
There’s hope that 2026 may bring more positivity with the transfer portal opening and a new group coming together for spring ball, but for now, the bad taste of the 2025 season remains.
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