USATSI
Mississippi State defeated Illinois 19-10 in the ReliaQuest Bowl in the Bulldogs’ first game since the death of legendary coach Mike Leach. They led 13-10 with four seconds to go, and Bulldogs cornerback Marcus Banks took a fling on the Fighting Illini’s final game and brought it 60 yards home to end the nine-point win.
Massimo Biscardi hit a 27-yard field goal with four seconds left to give Mississippi State a 13-10 lead. The Bulldogs rushed for 70 yards in nine games, led by quarterback Will Rogers, to get inside the 10-yard line and set Biscardi for the go-ahead score. Rogers completed 29 of 44 passes for 261 yards and one touchdown — an 8-yarder for Justin Robinson — for Mississippi State’s only offensive touchdown. Robinson had seven catches for 81 yards in the afternoon.
During the matchup, the team paid tribute to Leach’s legacy in a variety of ways. Just before kick-off, the team announced they would be wearing maroon helmets with a white pirate flag to honor Leach, who was known to have an interest in the history of pirate life.
As the game began, Mississippi State received the opening kick, once again honoring their late coach. The Bulldogs lined up in an air-raid formation and let the game clock run down to zero in a minute’s silence. Illinois denied delaying the game penalty.
Leach took the job at Mississippi State after former coach Dan Mullen left for Florida. Leach led the Bulldogs 19-17 in three seasons, including a 24-22 win over rival Ole Miss at the Egg Bowl in his last game. He was 158-107 overall with stints at Texas Tech (2000-09) and Washington State (2012-19).
He was widely known as the architect of the air assault offensive that distributed receivers and used the short passing game as a complement to the running game. He developed the offense with Hal Mumme when the two worked together in Kentucky (1997-98). Leach was a three-time National Coach of the Year and a three-time Power Five Conference Coach of the Year. He won two Power Five division titles and led his teams to 19 bowl games during his 21-year head coaching career.
Leach died on December 13 at the age of 61 from complications from a heart condition. He had been hospitalized two days earlier after suffering an illness at home.