2022 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2022
| team = Mississippi State Bulldogs
| sport = football
| image = Mississippi State Bulldogs logo.svg
| image_size = 150
| conference = Southeastern Conference
| division = Western Division
| short_conf = SEC
| CoachRank = 19
| APRank = 20
| record = 9–4
| conf_record = 4–4
| head_coach = Mike Leach
| hc_year = 3rd
| hc_games = regular season
| head_coach2 = Zach Arnett
| hc_games2 = bowl game
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme = Air Raid
| def_coach = Zach Arnett
| dc_year = 3rd
| def_scheme = 3–3–5
| captain =
| stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| champion = ReliaQuest Bowl champion
| bowl = ReliaQuest Bowl
| bowl_result = W 19–10 vs. Illinois
}}
{{2022 Southeastern Conference football standings}}
The 2022 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs played their home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, and compete in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by third-year head coach Mike Leach through the regular season, with Zach Arnett taking over for the team’s bowl appearance after Leach's death in December 2022.
In October 2022, 19-year-old freshman offensive lineman Samuel Westmoreland, from Tupelo, Mississippi, committed suicide.{{cite web | url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2022/11/10/mississippi-state-football-sam-westmoreland-tupelo-high-school-mental-health/69620632007/ | title=Live like Sam Westmoreland: Family recounts legacy of Mississippi State football player | website=The Clarion-Ledger}} Mississippi State honored Westmoreland with helmet stickers and by painting his initials and number on Scott Field.{{cite web | last=Hunte | first=Sydney | title=Mississippi State to honor deceased OL Sam Westmoreland with number painted on field | website=Saturday Down South | date=2022-11-05 | url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/mississippi-state-football/mississippi-state-to-honor-deceased-ol-sam-westmoreland-with-number-painted-on-field/ | access-date=2024-11-23}}
On December 11, Leach was hospitalized in critical condition, and Arnett was elevated to interim head coach.{{cite web |last1=Sallee|first1=Barrett|title=Mississippi State coach Mike Leach hospitalized in 'critical condition' with 'personal health issue'|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/mike-leach-hospitalized-mississippi-state-coach-in-critical-condition-with-personal-health-issue/|work=CBS Sports|access-date=12 December 2022 |date=December 12, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach still in critical condition|url=https://www.espn.in/college-football/story/_/id/35238774/mississippi-state-football-coach-mike-leach-critical-condition|publisher=ESPN|access-date=12 December 2022 |date=December 12, 2022}} Practice for the Bulldogs ahead of the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl and recruiting, was scheduled to continue as normal.{{cite web |last=Smith|first=Danny|title=MSU head football coach Leach taken to hospital|url=https://www.starkvilledailynews.com/sports/msu-head-football-coach-leach-taken-to-hospital/article_a9b37b8c-79a5-11ed-b437-b7552fae71b9.html|publisher=Starkville Daily News|access-date=12 December 2022 |date=December 11, 2022}} Leach died in the evening of December 12, with Mississippi State announcing the news in a statement the following morning.{{cite web | url=https://hailstate.com/news/2022/12/13/football-msu-bulldog-family-college-football-community-mourns-the-death-of-coach-mike-leach.aspx | title=MSU Bulldog family, college football community mourns the death of Coach Mike Leach }}{{cite web |title=Mississippi State coach Mike Leach dies after hospitalization|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35242848/mississippi-state-coach-mike-leach-dies-hospitalization|publisher=ESPN|access-date=13 December 2022 |date=December 13, 2022}} Following the death of Leach, Arnett was made the permanent head coach.{{cite web | url=https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Article/Zach-Arnett-Mississippi-State-football-coach-Mike-Leach-200466165/ | title=Zach Arnett promoted to Bulldog head coach (Updated) }}
Schedule
Mississippi State and the SEC announced the 2022 football schedule on September 21, 2021.{{cite news|last=Andy Kostka|url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2021/09/21/mississippi-state-footballs-2022-schedule-announced-sec/5806352001/|work=The Clarion-Ledger|title=Here's Mississippi State football's 2022 schedule, from opener to Egg Bowl|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=December 6, 2021}}{{cite news|last=Theo DeRosa|url=https://cdispatch.com/sports/2021-09-21/2022-mississippi-state-football-schedule-released/|work=The Commercial Dispatch|title=2022 Mississippi State football schedule released|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=December 6, 2021}}
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2022
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FBS
| poll = AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) - Released prior to game
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 3
| time = 6:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 49—23
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Memphis
| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| tv = ESPNU
| attend = 54,360
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 10
| time = 10:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 39–17
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Arizona
| site_stadium = Arizona Stadium
| site_cityst = Tucson, AZ
| tv = FS1
| attend = 46,275
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 17
| time = 5:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| score = 16–31
| away = y
| opponent = LSU
| site_stadium = Tiger Stadium
| site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ESPN
| attend = 98,520
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 24
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 45–14
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Bowling Green
| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| tv = SECN
| attend = 48,376
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 1
| time = 3:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 42—24
| opprank = 17
| opponent = Texas A&M
| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| tv = SECN
| attend = 51,930
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 8
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = w
| homecoming = y
| score = 40–17
| rank = 23
| opprank =
| opponent = Arkansas
| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| gamename = SEC Nation
| tv = SECN
| attend = 57,849
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 15
| time = 6:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| score = 17–27
| rank = 16
| away = y
| opponent = Kentucky
| opprank = 22
| site_stadium = Kroger Field
| site_cityst = Lexington, KY
| tv = SECN
| attend = 61,451
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 22
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| score = 6–30
| away = y
| rank = 24
| opprank = 6
| opponent = Alabama
| site_stadium = Bryant–Denny Stadium
| site_cityst = Tuscaloosa, AL
| gamename = rivalry
| tv = ESPN
| attend = 100,077
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 5
| time = 6:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 39–33
| overtime = OT
| opponent = Auburn
| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| tv = ESPN2
| attend = 57,769
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 12
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| score = 19–45
| opprank = 1
| opponent = Georgia
| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| tv = ESPN
| attend = 60,352
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 19
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 56–7
| nonconf = y
| opponent = East Tennessee State
| site_stadium = Davis Wade Stadium
| site_cityst = Starkville, MS
| tv = ESPN+/SECN+
| attend = 49,117
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|November 24|Thursday (Thanksgiving)}}
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 24–22
| opprank = 20
| away = y
| opponent = Ole Miss
| site_stadium = Vaught–Hemingway Stadium
| site_cityst = Oxford, MS
| gamename = Egg Bowl
| tv = ESPN
| attend = 62,487
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|January 2, 2023|Monday}}
| time = 11:00 a.m.
| w/l = w
| score = 19–10
| neutral = y
| nonconf = y
| rank = 22
| away =
| opponent = Illinois
| site_stadium = Raymond James Stadium
| site_cityst = Tampa, FL
| gamename = ReliaQuest Bowl
| tv = ESPN2
| attend = 35,797
}}
}}
==Rankings==
{{Further|2022 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings}}
{{NCAA Division I FBS CFP ranking movements
| year = {{2022}}
| finalpollweek = 15
| cfpfirstweek = 9
| AP_pre = RV
| coaches_pre = RV
| AP_1 = RV
| coaches_1 = RV
| AP_2 = RV
| coaches_2 = RV
| AP_3 = NR
| coaches_3 = RV
| AP_4 = NR
| coaches_4 = RV
| AP_5 = 23
| coaches_5 = 23
| AP_6 = 16
| coaches_6 = 17
| AP_7 = 24
| coaches_7 = 24
| AP_8 = RV
| coaches_8 = RV
| AP_9 = RV
| coaches_9 = RV
| cfp_9 = NR
| AP_10 = RV
| coaches_10 = RV
| cfp_10 = NR
| AP_11 = NR
| coaches_11 = NR
| cfp_11 = NR
| AP_12 = RV
| coaches_12 = RV
| cfp_12 = NR
| AP_13 = 25
| coaches_13 = 25
| cfp_13 = 24
| AP_14 = 24
| coaches_14 = 23
| cfp_14 = 22
| AP_15 = 20
| coaches_15 = 19
}}
Coaching staff
| class="wikitable" | |
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Mike Leach | Head coach (regular season) |
| Tony Hughes | Associate head coach & nickelbacks coach |
| Zach Arnett | Head Coach (bowl game), defensive coordinator & linebackers coach |
| Matt Brock | Special teams coordinator & outside linebackers coach |
| Darcel McBath | Cornerbacks coach |
| Eric Mele | Running backs coach |
| Mason Miller | Offensive line coach |
| Dave Nichol | Inside receivers coach |
| Jeff Phelps | Defensive line coach |
| Steve Spurrier Jr. | Outside receivers coach |
| Jason Washington | Safeties coach |
| Tyson Brown | Head strength and conditioning coach |
Players drafted into the NFL
{{see also|2023 NFL draft}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club}} | ||||
| 1 | 16 | Emmanuel Forbes | CB | Washington Commanders |
| 4 | 123 | Cameron Young | DT | Seattle Seahawks |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Mississippi State Bulldogs football navbox}}
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football seasons
Category:ReliaQuest Bowl champion seasons
Mississippi State Bulldogs football
{{collegefootball-2020s-season-stub}}