Music City Bowl: 4 things Louisville needs to know about Mississippi State

Tyler Horka
Mississippi Clarion Ledger

It's time for the Bulldogs to go bowling, again. 

Mississippi State (6-6, 3-5 SEC) takes on Louisville (7-5, 5-3 ACC) in the Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Dec. 30 at 3 p.m. CT. 

These are four things to know about MSU head coach Joe Moorhead's team before he takes it to a bowl game for the second-straight time in the first two years of his tenure, which is something only Jackie Sherrill has done before in program history. 

Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead looks at his players prior to an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Starkville, Miss., Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

1. This is MSU's 10th-straight bowl game appearance 

The Bulldogs are no strangers to bowl games. 

The last time Mississippi State didn't play in one, the Great Recession had just ended. Barack Obama was in his first year as the President of the United States. Tiger Woods got in his infamous car accident the day after Thanksgiving. 

The year was 2009. 

Mississippi State will have played in a bowl game in every year of the 2010s, which is a remarkable feat considering the second-longest postseason streak in program history was three-straight bowl games from 1998-2000. 

Here's a list of teams who have earned the right to play in a bowl game in every year of this decade. It isn't too long, and the company is pretty good. 

  • Mississippi State
  • Alabama 
  • Boise State 
  • Clemson 
  • Georgia 
  • LSU
  • Oklahoma 
  • Oklahoma State 
  • San Diego State 
  • Texas A&M
  • Virginia Tech 
  • Washington 
  • Wisconsin 

2. MSU has been ravaged by suspensions to key players

Kentucky quarterback Sawyer Smith (12) attempts to get past Mississippi State defensive tackle Lee Autry (90) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Kelly Donoho)

Mississippi State will have most of its players available for the bowl game. That hasn't been the case for majority of the season. 

The Bulldogs were without some key contributors for most of the year as they served eight-game suspensions for a violation of team rules. Senior defensive lineman Lee Autry, sophomore linebacker Willie Gay Jr. and sophomore safety Marcus Murphy were the biggest losses. 

That trio should play against Louisville. They could be game-changers. 

Gay and Murphy both have returned interceptions for touchdowns this season. Murphy snagged another pick with Ole Miss threatening to score late in the game in an Egg Bowl that ended up being decided by one point. Autry had 2.5 tackles for loss in the four games he played. 

The three have three full weeks to prepare to play together, which is a luxury they haven't had since August. All three have been in and out of the practice squad since the season started. Don't be surprised if one of them comes up big on Dec. 30. 

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3. MSU has the SEC's leading rusher

Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill (8) runs for a first down against Abilene Christian during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Starkville, Miss.

If you haven't heard of Kylin Hill or you haven't seen his highlight reel, you might want to check it out. 

The junior running back finished the regular season with 1,347 rushing yards, more than any other SEC player. He ran through opposing players, ran around them and even jumped over them more than a handful of times. 

Hill was named a first-team All-SEC player by the Associated Press and a second-teamer by the league's coaches. His success this season hasn't gone unnoticed by many. He has one more chance to showcase his ability this season. 

Hill has a decision to make in the coming weeks. The Music City Bowl could very well be his last time to suit up in maroon and white. If it is, he could go out by breaking a record. He only needs 45 yards to set the single-season-program record for most rushing yards. With 53 more yards, Hill becomes the first player in program history to rush for 1,400 yards in a season. 

4. MSU has had instability at quarterback

Mississippi State head football coach Joe Moorhead talks to Mississippi State's Tommy Stevens (7) during Senior Night ceremonies. Mississippi State and Ole Miss played in the Egg Bowl on Thursday, November 28, 2019 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.

Pot, meet kettle. 

Both Louisville and Mississippi State have had issues at the game's most important position this season. Louisville has flip-flopped between Micale Cunningham and Evan Conley. Mississippi State has struggled finding balance between Tommy Stevens and Garrett Shrader. 

With still three weeks until game day, it's unclear who will start for State. 

Stevens, a senior, has started eight games this season. Shrader has started four but has played in all but two. Shrader started the most recent game against Ole Miss, notching his second win as a starter. 

The pair's passing statistics are comparable. Stevens is 80-of-135 (59.3%) for 934 yards and nine touchdowns against five interceptions. Shrader is 88-of-153 (57.5%) for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns against five interceptions. Shrader has run 113 times for 587 yards and six touchdowns. Stevens has run for 310 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries.

One hasn't been far greater than the other this season, so it'll be up to Moorhead to decide which he believes gives his team the best chance to win. Given how volatile the situation has been all season, don't be surprised to see both. 

Contact Tyler Horka at thorka@gannett.com. Follow @tbhorka on Twitter. To read more of Tyler's work, subscribe to the Clarion Ledger today!