Mississippi State’s 2025 season is drawing to a close with the 122nd edition of the Egg Bowl.
The Bulldogs (5-7, 1-7 SEC) are looking to shake off a poor end to the regular season, suffering blowout losses to Georgia, Mizzou and Ole Miss on the way to finishing short of where they’d hoped to be. A fresh shot in the arm came the next week with a big signing day and the news that they’d made a bowl game after all, and now there’s a chance to score a win in primetime and carry momentum into the offseason, just as the transfer portal opens.
The Deacons (8-4, 4-4 ACC) had their own struggles early on, but finished a solid campaign in conference play. They helped wreck No. 14 Virginia’s playoff hopes with a big upset win in Charlottesville, and earned a bowl bid in head coach Jake Dickert’s first season in charge.
The game itself will be shaken up some by the beginnings of the transfer portal season, with several players on both teams set to enter on Jan. 2. That won’t detract too much from two programs hoping to continue rising in 2026, and start the new year on the right foot.
Here’s how to watch the bowl game, and what to watch for.
What: Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest
When: 7 p.m. on Friday
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
TV: ESPN
Betting line: MSU favored by 3.5
Weather: Cool and cloudy with temps in the high 40s by kickoff time, per AccuWeather.
Records/rankings: MSU is 5-7, 1-7 in SEC play, and one win away from bowl eligibility.
Wake Forest is 8-4, 4-4 in ACC, and .
Series history: The Bulldogs have played against Wake Forest just once before, meeting in the 2011 Music City Bowl in Nashville. MSU won that matchup 23-17 thanks to touchdowns by Vick Ballard and Arceto Clark, capping a second bowl win in three seasons under former head coach Dan Mullen.
Mississippi State update: The Bulldogs have some uncertainty on defense, with safety Isaac Smith going down with another injury against Ole Miss, and fill-in Tony Mitchell entering the transfer portal the day of the game.
There is still no answer from Lebby on who will be calling plays on defense as well. Returning defensive coordinator Zach Arnett hasn’t taken on full coaching duties yet, and staff shakeups began the same week MSU’s bowl bid was announced.
However, other than Smith’s injury, offensive lineman Jimothy Lewis entering the portal, and Davon Booth signing with an agency to begin the NFL Draft process, most of the team’s starters are fresh and ready for the bowl game. Wide receivers Brenen Thompson and Anthony Evans are both fresh, and Lebby also hinted at more reps for some of the younger skill position guys with other veterans set to hit the portal.
Wake Forest update: The biggest question around the Deacons is who will actually play? Many players have already started the NFL draft process or announced they’re headed to the transfer portal, meaning there will be plenty of opportunity for up and coming players as well as a lot of unknowns for the Bulldogs.
Top running back Demond Claiborne has declared for the NFL Draft, receivers Micah Mays Jr. and Chris Barnes both decided to enter the transfer portal, and Mateen Ibirogba is also looking for a new program when the window opens on Jan. 2.
In terms of the players who have stuck around, Carlos Hernandez looks poised to pick up some more targets at receiver, and Ty Clark III will step up at running back.
Starting quarterback Robby Ashford is still in the frame for the Deacons, and he’s someone the MSU defense has kept tabs on throughout the month of December.
Linebacker Nic Mitchell told The Dispatch at media day that the team had looked back to some of their tape and preparation for Arkansas’ Taylen Green during the process, a quarterback who made some big plays against the Bulldogs but was shut down in winning time of MSU’s only SEC win this year.
“A cat like that, it’s a ‘gotta have it’ scenario,” Mitchell said.
Wake Forest players to watch: QB Robby Ashford, RB Ty Clark III, WR Carlos Hernandez, DL Langston Hardy, DB Nick Andersen, DB Davaughn Patterson.
Prediction: Despite a strong campaign with some big performances against the best in the ACC, including a win over then No. 14 Virginia, the Deacons are not favored in this one because of the notable roster departures.
MSU has most of its starters, a new QB1 in Kamario Taylor, a fresh running back with Fluff Bothwell getting back healthy, and its top two receivers ready to go. Thompson has a chance to set a program record for single season receiving yards, and gets over the line with some big plays downfield.
MSU’s defensive struggles continue to pop up, but the prolific offense gets the job done in the end for the Bulldogs in a first bowl win under Lebby.
Mississippi State 38, Wake Forest 28
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