Overview
- Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET on ESPN at Bank of America Stadium, with sportsbooks listing Mississippi State as roughly a 3-point favorite.
- Freshman dual-threat Kamario Taylor is expected to start for the Bulldogs after posting 178 passing yards and 173 rushing yards with two touchdowns in the Egg Bowl.
- Wake Forest will be without key contributors Demond Claiborne, Chris Barnes, Micah Mays Jr. and Mateen Ibirogba, with Ty Clark III set to lead the backfield.
- Mississippi State’s defensive staff is in flux after firing coordinator Coleman Hutzler; Zach Arnett was hired but will not coach the bowl, and the defensive play-caller has not been named.
- The matchup is the final bowl game at Bank of America Stadium before a planned $800 million redevelopment of the venue.