MS State rallies to win ReliaQuest Bowl, honors Leach

TAMPA, Fla. — Massimo Biscardi made a 27-yard tiebreaking field goal with four seconds left, Marcus Banks returned a fumble 60 yards for a touchdown on the final play and No. 24 Mississippi State rallied to beat Illinois 19-10 on Saturday in the ReliaQuest Bowl in the Bulldogs’ first game since the death Mike Leach’s coach.

“Obviously, Mike Leach has led this program for three years, and he’s right there leading us today,” said Zach Arnett, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach three days after Leach’s death. “An emotional game, obviously.”

Banks’ score came on Illinois’ fifth lateral after a pass was completed after the Fighting Illini got the ball at their own 29. There was a scrum on the field as the game ended, but order was restored after a few minutes.

Will Rogers was 29 of 44 yards for 261 yards and one goal for Mississippi State (9-4, No. 22 CFP). Simeon Price had 68 yards rushing, including a key 28-yard run on the go-ahead drive of the fourth quarter, on seven attempts.

“Football is not always a good game,” Rogers said. “I know Coach Leach might be a little upset with some of the decisions, but we fought hard and stayed together as a team. He was with all of us. He’s been with me all along. I really miss him. .”

Tommy DeVito completed 23 of 34 passes for 253 yards for Illinois (8-5).

“It’s a defensive battle that really, for sure, could be who has the ball last,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. “Who can execute. Unfortunately, we came up short.”

Reggie Love III rushed for 40 yards on 11 carries for Illinois. Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown, the nation’s second-leading rusher in the regular season with 1,643 yards, sat out to prepare for the NFL draft.

Illinois lost all five games by nine points or less. The school hasn’t had a nine-win season since its 2007 Rose Bowl team went 9-4.

“It’s going to be a bigger and better springboard,” Bielema said.

Mississippi State was held without a touchdown until the first play of the fourth quarter, when Rogers connected eight yards to Justin Robinson to tie the game at 10.

Robinson had seven receptions for 81 yards. Illinois’ Isaiah Williams racked up 114 yards on nine catches.

The Bulldogs averaged 32.7 points during the regular season.

Illinois, which entered allowing 12.3 points and held six opponents to less than 10 points, played without defensive backs Devon Witherspoon and Sydney Brown. Both opted out ahead of the NFL draft.

DeVito put Illinois up 7-0 on a two-yard run with 2:49 left in the second quarter.

Mississippi State responded with a 38-yard field goal by Biscardi with nine seconds left in the first half.

Illinois went up 10-3 on a 52-yard field goal by Caleb Griffin midway through the third.

Mississippi State was limited to 50 yards on its first three possessions, while the next two ended in interceptions by Matthew Bailey and Kendall Smith.

Illinois tops the nation with 24 interceptions.

RESPECTING MIKE

Among the tributes to Leach, who died on December 12 of complications from heart disease, was “MIKE” with the pirate logo as part of the “I” painted between 20 and 30 on one part of the field.

The Mississippi State band spelled out “LEACH” before the moment of silence before the game.

The Bulldogs have a pirate flag instead of the school logo on their helmet. Leach’s nickname is “The Pirate.”

UP NEXT

Mississippi State: Opens the 2023 regular-season on Sept. 2 against Southeastern Louisiana.

Illinois: Hosts Toledo on Sept. 2.