Overview
- Kickoff is Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
- Freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor headlines Mississippi State after a 351-yard, two‑TD rushing breakout in his Egg Bowl start.
- Wake Forest will be without All-ACC running back Demond Claiborne plus receivers Chris Barnes and Micah Mays Jr. and lineman Mateen Ibirogba, with Ty Clark III set to handle carries.
- Mississippi State fired defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler, hired Zach Arnett for 2026, and has not named a bowl play-caller for a defense that allowed 29.2 points and about 190 rushing yards per game.
- The Bulldogs reached the bowl at 5-7 via APR and open as roughly a 3-point favorite, while Jake Dickert’s 8-4 Demon Deacons chase a ninth win in his first season.