Mississippi State is back on the gridiron Friday in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against ACC opponent Wake Forest, the program’s first bowl appearance since the 2022 season.

The Bulldogs, 5-7, have their work cut out against a Deacons team that finished the regular season 8-4. Head coach Jeff Lebby is looking for his first postseason win, as well as another opportunity to see what true freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor can do against strong opposition.

Here are three keys to victory for the Bulldogs as they look to end their 2025 campaign on a positive note in the new year.

Put on a show

The 2025 season was up and down for MSU. A 4-0 start built plenty of excitement from fans going into SEC play, but a 1-7 finish served as a letdown despite the continued production on offense. The bowl game serves as an opportunity to showcase the future of the team at quarterback, and Lebby should embrace that chance to show what his offense can do.

The Bulldogs haven’t hit the final form of what Lebby’s “showtime” offense is capable of, but the pieces are there to let it rip in primetime on ESPN.

Aside from the obvious benefits a win would bring in terms of program positivity and momentum going into the transfer portal, a win would also reward a fanbase that has experienced a tumultuous ride on and off the field. As the cost of being a college football fan has gone up, MSU has stagnated. Since the departure of Dan Mullen eight years ago, fans have seen four different head coaches with four very different approaches and a dramatic evolution of the sport itself, with the program having to navigate the difficulties of NIL, the transfer portal and revenue sharing.

At the heart of it all is the game itself, and fans want to be entertained with their team in the national spotlight.

Balance the offense and get Kamario in rhythm

Now, onto the Xs and Os.

MSU’s offense is capable of putting up plenty of points, but it’s always at its best when it can strike a balance. That didn’t happen much in SEC play, especially on the ground.

While the Bulldog offense has generally had success, even in defeat, the underlying numbers in the rushing game have been particularly worrying.

They’ve had a negative Expected Point Average (EPA) per rush in all but one SEC game this season, with the outlier being a wildly successful game for Fluff Bothwell and Davon Booth against Tennessee. Per CFB Graphs, the Bulldogs bottomed out with a -0.316 EPA/rush against Texas, and finished the season with seven consecutive rushing performances in the red.

Bothwell’s injury in the Texas A&M game played a part in the drop off, but the offensive line woes became a big factor as well, and the passing game suffered as a result. His return was slow, but with an extra month to get healthy, Bothwell should be as close to 100% as he has been all season.

Wake Forest’s defense is not one to overlook, though. The unit ranks 30th in FBS in rush defense and 25th in total defense. If the Bulldogs are to find success on the ground and strike a balance, the offensive line will have to do its job in protecting and creating opportunities for Bothwell and Taylor.

Stay disciplined on rushing lanes

The biggest factor in MSU’s undoing in the final stretch of the season was the rush defense, and it’s an area where the Deacons will look to exploit.

Quarterback Robby Ashford is a well-documented dual threat, with 504 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground this season.

“Robby has done a good job of being able to create and extend with his feet,” Lebby said. “He’s a guy that can run and make plays in the run game, and again, when you don’t do a great job against him in the pocket, he makes you pay. We’ve got to be able to get him on the ground. We’ve got to have great rush integrity with our lanes and making sure we bottle him up and get him on the ground when we can.”

The backfield was boosted by running back Demond Claiborne, who averaged 5.1 yards per carry, 907 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, but they’ll be without him as he has started the NFL draft process.

Claiborne’s production will have to be replicated by running back Ty Clark. 

The Deacons will also be without two of their most productive receivers, Chris Barnes and Micah Mays, who are set to enter the transfer portal. While the team should still be wary of the unknown talent in the unit, the real focus will be on stopping the run and containing Ashford.

“He can hurt you with his legs, so you’ve always got to take that into consideration when that pops up on tape,” MSU linebacker Nic Mitchell said. “We know that’s a threat, and they’ve got good speed on the outside too.”