Editor’s note: This is the second installment of our “Scouting the schedule” series, which breaks down every game on Mississippi State’s 2022 football schedule. Part 1 dealt with the Bulldogs’ season opener against Memphis, and Part 3 will cover their first SEC game at LSU.
On paper, Mississippi State’s only nonconference matchup against a Power Five team doesn’t seem too bad.
Arizona went just 1-11 last season and appears slated to be one of the weaker teams in FBS football yet again.
But a lot can happen in the desert, particularly in a night game set to mess with the Bulldogs’ circadian rhythms.
MSU will be expected to take care of business in Tucson, but Mike Leach teams are known to lose games they shouldn’t. Add in the setting and the start time, and the recipe is there for a potential ugly upset; it’ll be up to the Bulldogs to prove they’re better than that.
Mississippi State will face Arizona at 10 p.m. Central on Sept. 10 at Arizona Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1.
Arizona quick facts
2021 record: 1-11 (1-8 Pac-12)
Coach: Jedd Fisch, second year
ESPN Football Power Index: No. 91
All-time series: 0-0
Last meeting: Never
History
Mississippi State and Arizona have never met on the football field. The Bulldogs have only played three games ever against Pac-12 opponents. MSU is 0-2 against Oregon and won its only matchup with Washington.
2021 season
Arizona’s 1-11 season was by far the worst in the history of the Wildcats’ program.
Jedd Fisch’s first year at the helm resulted in only one win: an ugly 10-3 home victory over Cal on Nov. 6.
Arizona went winless in its other eight Pac-12 games and lost all three of its nonconference contests: BYU, San Diego State and even Northern Arizona. On average, the Wildcats were outscored by more than two touchdowns per game.
Quarterback Will Plummer is back in 2022 after throwing just six touchdowns to nine interceptions and accruing 1,610 yards. Returning passers Gunner Cruz and Jordan McCloud each totaled over 400 passing yards in 2021.
Arizona had three running backs — Drake Anderson, Michael Wiley and Jalen John — rush for 250 or more yards. All three return in 2022.
The Wildcats return sack leader Kyon Barrs (5.0 sacks), but defensive lineman Mo Diallo (8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks) moves on. Leading tackler Anthony Pandy (45 tackles) will not return.
Key additions
Despite its woeful 2021 record, Arizona has managed to secure the country’s consensus No. 22 signing class, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
Four-star wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, the nation’s No. 51 recruit, is the gem of the Wildcats’ class. Four-star tight end Keyan Burnett, McMillan’s teammate at Servite High School in Anaheim, California, is Arizona’s third-best commit. Three-star quarterback Noah Fifita and three-star linebacker Jacob Manu also come from Servite.
The Wildcats’ other three four-star players are all from California — running back Rayshon Luke, linebacker Sterling Lane and cornerback Ephesians Prysock.
Arizona also landed four-star transfer wideout Jacob Cowing from UTEP and several former four-stars: edge rusher Hunter Echols (USC), defensive lineman Tiaoalii Savea (UCLA), linebacker Anthony Solomon (Michigan), running back D.J. Williams (Florida State) and offensive tackle Jack Buford (New Mexico).
Washington State quarterback Jayden De Laura also transferred in after throwing for 2,798 yards and 23 touchdowns last season for the Cougars.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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