2015 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

2015 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Belk Bowl Champions
Belk Bowl vs. NC State, W 51–28
Conference Southeastern Conference Western Division
2015 record 9–4 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach Dan Mullen (7th year)
Co-offensive coordinator Billy Gonzales (2nd as Co OC, 3rd overall year)
Co-offensive coordinator John Hevesy (2nd as Co OC, 7th overall year)
Offensive scheme Spread Option
Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz (1st straight; 2nd overall year)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Davis Wade Stadium (Capacity: 61,337)
2015 SEC football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
East Division
#25 Florida x   7 1         10 4  
#22 Tennessee   5 3         9 4  
Georgia   5 3         10 3  
Vanderbilt   2 6         4 8  
Kentucky   2 6         5 7  
Missouri   1 7         5 7  
South Carolina   1 7         3 9  
West Division
#1 Alabama x$#^   7 1         14 1  
#10 Ole Miss   6 2         10 3  
Arkansas   5 3         8 5  
#16 LSU   5 3         9 3  
Texas A&M   4 4         8 5  
Mississippi State   4 4         9 4  
Auburn   2 6         7 6  
Championship: Alabama 29, Florida 15
  • # College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
As of January 12, 2016; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2015 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represents Mississippi State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs play their home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, and compete in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They are led by seventh year head coach Dan Mullen. The Bulldogs finished the season 9-4, having won the 2015 Belk Bowl.

Previous season

The 2014 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team finished the regular season 10-2, with their only two losses to Alabama and Ole Miss. Mississippi State knocked out three top 10 teams in a row during the season, #8 LSU, #6 Texas A&M, and #2 Auburn. The Bulldogs were ranked as high at #1 in all polls including the new College Football Playoff Rankings for the first time in school history until their first loss to #4 Alabama on November 15, 2014, of a deficit of 5 points. Mississippi State was in the mix to be a part of the all-new College Football Playoffs most of the regular season until their second loss to #18 Ole Miss two weeks after the loss at #4 Alabama. The team finished the regular season ranked seven in the College Football Playoff Rankings and was invited to play in the 2014 Orange Bowl against #12 Georgia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Mississippi State fell short to the Yellow Jackets in Miami Gardens, Florida with a loss of 34-49 and finished 10-3. It was the Bulldogs' third appearance in the Orange Bowl and first since 1941.

Schedule

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 5 9:00 p.m. at Southern Miss* M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS FS1 W 34–16   36,641
September 12 8:15 p.m. #14 LSU #25 Davis Wade StadiumStarkville, MS (Rivalry) ESPN L 19–21   62,531
September 19 3:00 p.m. Northwestern State* Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS SECN W 62–13   61,574
September 26 6:30 p.m. at Auburn Jordan–Hare StadiumAuburn, AL ESPN2 W 17–9   87,451
October 3 6:30 p.m. at #14 Texas A&M #21 Kyle FieldCollege Station, TX SECN L 17–30   104,455
October 10 3:00 p.m. Troy* Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS SECN W 45–17   60,866
October 17 11:00 a.m. Louisiana Tech*dagger Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS SECN W 45–20   61,651
October 24 6:30 p.m. Kentucky Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS (Rivalry) SECN W 42–16   61,168
November 5 8:00 p.m. at Missouri #24 Faurot FieldColumbia, MO ESPN W 31–13   58,878
November 14 2:30 p.m. #3 Alabama #20 Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS (Rivalry) CBS L 6–31   62,435
November 21 6:00 p.m. at Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, AR ESPN W 51–50   71,936
November 28 6:15 p.m. #19 Ole Miss #23 Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS (Egg Bowl) ESPN2 L 27–38   62,265
December 30 2:30 p.m. vs. NC State* Bank of America StadiumCharlotte, NC (Belk Bowl) ESPN W 51–28   45,423
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Central Time.
Schedule Source:[1]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP RV 25 RV RV 21 RV RV RV 25 24 20 RV 23 RV RV RV 
Coaches' RV RV RV RV 22 RV RV RV RV 25 20 25 22 RV RV RV 
CFP Not released 20 17 NR 21 NR NR Not released

Southern Miss

Mississippi State at Southern Miss
1 234Total
Bulldogs 7 7137 34
Golden Eagles 10 033 16

Source: [2]

Overall record Last meeting Result
13–14–1 2014 Mississippi State, 49–0

Louisiana State

#14 LSU at #25 Mississippi State
1 234Total
Tigers 14 070 21
Bulldogs 0 3313 19

Source: [3]

Overall record Last meeting Result
34–71–3 2014 Mississippi State, 34–29

Northwestern State

Northwestern State at Mississippi State
1 234Total
Demons 0 670 13
Bulldogs 20 141414 62

Source: [4]

Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0 1946 Mississippi State, 27–0

Auburn

Mississippi State at Auburn
1 234Total
Bulldogs 7 730 17
Tigers 0 063 9

Source: [5]

Overall record Last meeting Result
25–61–2 2014 Mississippi State, 38–23

Texas A&M

#21 Mississippi State at #14 Texas A&M
1 234Total
Bulldogs 3 707 17
Aggies 14 1033 30

Source:[6]

Overall record Last meeting Result
4–4 2014 Mississippi State, 48–31

Troy

Troy at Mississippi State
1 234Total
Trojans 0 0143 17
Bulldogs 21 1707 45
  • Date: October 10
  • Location: Davis Wade Stadium
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 3:00 PM CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:04
  • Game attendance: 60,866
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Clear skies
  • Referee: Brad Rogers
  • TV announcers (SECN): Dave Neal (Play-by-Play), Matt Stinchcomb (Color), Kayce Smith (Sideline Reporter)

Source:[7]

Overall record Last meeting Result
3–1 2013 Mississippi State, 62–7

Louisiana Tech

Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State
1 234Total
Louisiana Tech 14 330 20
Mississippi State 7 17147 45
  • Date: October 17
  • Location: Davis Wade Stadium
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 11:00 AM CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:16
  • Game attendance: 61,651
  • Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), Sunny
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV announcers (SECN): Mike Couzens (Play-by-Play), Cole Cubelic (Color), Kevin Wiedl (Sideline Reporter)

Source:[8]

Overall record Last meeting Result
8–3 2011 Mississippi State, 26–20 OT

Kentucky

Kentucky at Mississippi State
1 234Total
Wildcats 10 330 16
Bulldogs 7 2177 42
  • Date: October 24
  • Location: Davis Wade Stadium
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 6:30 PM CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:49
  • Game attendance: 61,168
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C), Light winds, Partly cloudy
  • Referee: Tom Ritter
  • TV announcers (SECN): Brent Musburger (Play-by-Play), Jesse Palmer (Color), Maria Taylor (Sideline Reporter)

Source:[9]

Overall record Last meeting Result
21–21 2014 Mississippi State, 45–31

Missouri

#24 Mississippi State at Missouri
1 234Total
Bulldogs 7 7170 31
Tigers 3 1000 13

Source:[10]

Overall record Last meeting Result
0–2 1984 Missouri, 47–30

Alabama

#3 Alabama at #20 Mississippi State
1 234Total
Crimson Tide 0 2137 31
Bulldogs 0 330 6
  • Date: November 14
  • Location: Davis Wade Stadium
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 2:30 PM CST
  • Elapsed time: 3:27
  • Game attendance: 62,435
  • Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), Sunny
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • Television network: CBS

Source:[11]

Overall record Last meeting Result
18–78–3 2014 Alabama, 25–20

Arkansas

Mississippi State at Arkansas
1 234Total
Bulldogs 14 17020 51
Razorbacks 7 14218 50

Source:[12]

Overall record Last meeting Result
9–15–1 2014 Mississippi State, 17–10

Ole Miss

#19 Ole Miss at #23 Mississippi State
1 234Total
Rebels 21 737 38
Bulldogs 0 31014 27
  • Date: November 28
  • Location: Davis Wade Stadium
    Starkville, MS
  • Game start: 6:15 PM CST
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 62,265
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), Clear skies
  • Referee: John McDaid
  • Television network: ESPN2

Source:[13]

Overall record Last meeting Result
43–62–6 2014 Ole Miss, 31–17

NC State (Belk Bowl)

NC State vs Mississippi State
1 234Total
Wolfpack 0 1477 28
Bulldogs 14 17614 51

Source:

Overall record Last meeting Result
2–3 1995 NC State, 28–24

References

  1. "2015 Mississippi State Bulldogs Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  2. "Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles (September 5, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  3. "Louisiana State Tigers vs Mississippi State Bulldogs (September 12, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. September 12, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  4. "Northwestern State Demons vs Mississippi State Bulldogs (September 19, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  5. "Mississippi State vs Auburn (Sep 26, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  6. "Mississippi State vs Texas A&M (October 3, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  7. "Troy Trojans vs Mississippi State Bulldogs (October 10, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  8. "Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs Mississippi State Bulldogs (October 17, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. October 17, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  9. "Kentucky Wildcats vs Mississippi State Bulldogs (October 24, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. October 24, 2015. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  10. "Mississippi State vs Missouri (November 5, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. November 5, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  11. "Alabama vs Mississippi State (November 14, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  12. "Mississippi State vs Arkansas (November 21, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. November 21, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  13. "Ole Miss vs Mississippi State (November 28, 2015)". Mississippi State University Department of Athletics. November 28, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
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