Louisiana Tech was 2-1 on the season coming off wins over Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan and a heartbreaking one-score loss to Baylor in Independence Stadium in Shreveport. It was Gary Crowton’s first season as head coach.
Mississippi State was coming off a rare early -season open date. The Bulldogs from Starkville were 1-0 on the season, having defeated Memphis in the opener 31-10. It was Jackie Sherrill’s 6th season in Starkville.
Behind the passing of Jason Martin and the receiving of Troy Edwards, Chad Mackey, and Josh Bradley, the rushing of Lee Ragsdale, and the kicking of Marty Kent, Tech built a 38-11 lead with 5 minutes to play. Mississippi State then scored two touchdowns in the final 2 minutes of the game to cut the final margin to 15 points.
This was Mississippi State’s worst home non-conference loss in 13 years. State had not lost at home to a non-conference opponent since a 31-7 defeat to eventual national champion Miami in 1983. The Bulldogs from Starkville were not blown out again in a non-conference game at home by more than 15 points until 2006, losing to No. 4 West Virginia 42-14.
Tech finished the season 6-5. Mississippi State finished 5-6 after three SEC losses by 8 points or less. The Starkville Dogs did finish on a high note in the final month of the season, stunning No. 8 Alabama 17-16 and Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl 17-0. The victory over Alabama was only the 2nd for MSU’ since 1957.
Scoring plays at:
Tech 5:24 – Tech 7-0
Tech 12:03 – Tech 13-0
Tech 17:30 – Tech 16-0
State 19:00 – Tech 16-8
Tech 23:52 – Tech 24-8
State 30:37 – Tech 24-11
Tech 45:10 - Tech 31-11
Tech 50:20 – Tech 38-11
State 55:10 – Tech 38 - 17
State 55:40 – MSU 38 -23
