One of many ultimate non-Faculty Soccer Playoff bowl video games of the 2025 season will happen on Friday night time in Charlotte when Mississippi State faces Wake Forest within the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Jan. 2 will characteristic 4 bowl video games (Mayo, Armed Forces, Liberty and Vacation) to shut out bowl season.
Regardless of going 5-7 within the common season, Mississippi State obtained a bowl recreation invite attributable to its excessive Tutorial Progress Price (APR). With different groups opting out of bowl video games, it paved the way in which for the Bulldogs to play an extra recreation, regardless of not clearing the six-win mark sometimes wanted to change into bowl-eligible.
The Bulldogs misplaced their ultimate three SEC video games, with the lone win towards a convention opponent coming towards Arkansas earlier within the 12 months.
Wake Forest went 8-4 in Yr 1 of the Jake Dickert period. The Demon Deacons went 6-2 down the stretch after beginning 2-2 with losses to Georgia Tech and NC State. With a win, Wake Forest can attain the nine-win mark for the primary time since 2021.
The place to observe Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest stay
Date: Friday, Jan. 2 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Financial institution of America Stadium — Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Strive free of charge)
Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest: Must know for Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Yr 2 of the Jeff Lebby period may finish in type: In Yr 1 of his tenure at Mississippi State, Lebby led his group to a 2-10 document. The Bulldogs opened the 2024 marketing campaign with a win over Japanese Kentucky however misplaced 10 of their ultimate 11 video games to complete with simply two wins. Mississippi State additionally went winless (0-8) towards SEC opponents. This season was a transparent signal of progress regardless of the document. Mississippi State recorded a dramatic win over Arizona State earlier within the 12 months and beat Arkansas for Lebby’s first SEC win on the faculty. A win over Wake Forest can carry constructive momentum into 2026.
Dickert has Wake Forest again on observe: After recording back-to-back seasons with 4 wins, Wake Forest received again on observe this season by doubling its win complete. After former coach Dave Clawson resigned on the conclusion of final season, this system employed Dickert away from his publish at Washington State. The outcomes from Yr 1 of his tenure have been overwhelmingly constructive. This system is on the verge of ending with 9 wins for simply the third time since 2007.
One other have a look at Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor: Taylor, a four-star prospect from the 2025 recruiting cycle, made his first profession begin within the Egg Bowl towards Ole Miss. Taylor completed that recreation 15-of-31 for 178 yards and ran 20 instances for 173 yards and two touchdowns. The bowl recreation can be one other enormous alternative for him to indicate why he might be the longer term reply at quarterback for Lebby’s group.
Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest prediction, picks
Mississippi State may’ve discovered its long-term reply at quarterback in Taylor. This bowl recreation can be one other alternative for him to showcase his dynamic potential as a dual-threat. Though Wake Forest is on the verge of reaching the nine-win mark for the third time since 2007, I anticipate Mississippi State to get it performed. The Bulldogs win by a landing to shut out the bowl season. Decide: Mississippi State -3.5
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