This tracker will keep tabs on which Mississippi State football players have opted out of playing in the Duke's Mayo Bowl against Wake Forest.

The Bulldogs' season was brought back to life Sunday after other teams turned down bowl invitations, leaving a spot open for them.

Here's how Mississippi State football was able to get into a bowl game in 2025, despite not reaching six wins.

COLUMBIA, MO — Mississippi State football made plenty of costly mistakes en route to another SEC loss. The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6 SEC) were dropped 49-27 by No. 24 Missouri (7-3, 3-3) on Nov. 15 at Memorial Stadium.

Mississippi State football accepted an invitation to play in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Jan. 2 despite having only five wins.

Mississippi State has fired defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler and is expected to target ex-coach and DC Zach Arnett, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported.

Mississippi State football's once promising season ended with losses in seven of the last eight games after a third straight Egg Bowl defeat..

Year two of the Jeff Lebby era is complete and Mississippi State is now pushing into an all-important third year for the Bulldog head coach. After a 2-10 season in 2024, Lebby and his staff did improve the team with the transfer portal in year two,