Overview
- Kickoff is Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium on ESPN.
- Mississippi State accepted a bowl bid at 5-7 through APR after other teams declined invitations.
- The Bulldogs fired defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler, hired Zach Arnett for the role, and have not announced the bowl defensive play-caller.
- Wake Forest, 8-4 under first-year coach Jake Dickert, is expected to be without All-ACC running back Demond Claiborne and receivers Chris Barnes and Micah Mays Jr.
- CBS Sports picks Mississippi State by 3.5 and Yahoo/Clarion Ledger projects a 30-26 Bulldogs win, with freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor viewed as a key factor.