Mississippi State hosts No. 12 Kentucky on homecoming

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State football team is set to host the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT for a homecoming game at Davis Wade Stadium. The contest will be televised on SEC Network.

Saturday will also be a time for Mississippi State to recognize its 2021 national championship baseball team on-field with a ring presentation, while baseball alumni will also be in attendance and honored throughout the game.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-2 SEC) bounced back last week with a 45-6 win over last-place Vanderbilt. Sophomore quarterback Will Rogers, who leads the Southeastern Conference in passing, completed 41 of 57 passes for 384 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Rogers has completed 291 of 396 passes (73.5%) for 2,546 yards, which is good for 363.7 yards per game. He has thrown 18 TDs against seven interceptions. His top target has been redshirt sophomore wide receiver Makai Polk, who averages an SEC-best 8.3 catches per game and has 552 yards receiving on the year, which is sixth in the SEC. He was one of five Bulldogs with five receptions in the win over Vanderbilt and led the team with TD catches of 31 and nine yards while finishing with five catches for 63 yards receiving.

The Wildcats (6-1, 4-1 SEC) are coming off a bye after a 30-13 loss at No. 1 Georgia two weeks ago.

Kentucky junior quarterback Will Levis has completed 119 of 177 passes (67.2%) for 1,326 yards, 13 TDs and six interceptions. He ranks 10th in the SEC in yards passing per game (189.4). His top target is junior receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who has made 49 catches for 566 yards receiving and five TDs.

Kentucky junior running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was held to just seven yards rushing on seven carries against Georgia but remains the top rusher in the SEC with 775 yards and five TDs on 127 carries. The Wildcats average 190.9 yards on the ground per game, which ranks seventh in the SEC.

The contest features a Kentucky defense that ranks third in the league in total yards allowed per game (320.9) and an MSU defense that ranks fourth (326.9). The Wildcats are allowing 201.9 yards passing and 119.0 yards rushing, while the Bulldogs are allowing 234.1 yards passing and 92.7 yards rushing.

Saturday’s game will mark the 49th meeting between the Bulldogs and Wildcats on the gridiron, The series is tied 24-24, but MSU is 14-7 against Kentucky in Starkville. MSU will look to avenge last year’s 24-2 road loss to Kentucky.

Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (reporter) will be on the call.