STARKVILLE, Miss. (WLBT) - For the first time in the Lebby era, Mississippi State will play in a bowl game.

The Bulldogs have accepted an invitation to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, despite going 5-7 on the season. They will face an ACC opponent on Jan. 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The opponent has not been announced at this time.

Mississippi State was able to secure a bowl game due to teams opting out and Academic Progress Rate (APR) tiebreakers.

Kansas State (6-6) and Iowa State (8-4), two schools facing coaching changes, opted out of bowl games.

It’s the 27th bowl game appearance for Mississippi State and the first time they have been bowling since 2022.

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