MSU ties Rutgers in bowl win streak

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Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen holds up the Music City Bowl trophy after his Bulldogs defeated Wake Forest 23-17. (Photo by Mark Humphrey, AP)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Mississippi State Bulldogs are currently tied with Rutgers for the longest active bowl-winning streak in the nation with five straight wins.
Couple with last year’s 52-14 win over Michigan in the Gator Bowl, Mississippi State has won bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the
first time since 1999-2000, when the Bulldogs beat Clemson in the Peach Bowl (1999) and Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl (2000).

Bulldogs sack masters

MSU registered six sacks in the Music City Bowl, which is the most since recording seven in a 47-35 home win over No. 3 Florida on Sept. 30, 2000.

MSU offense rolls

The Bulldogs’ 4,643 yards of total offense and 241 first downs this season each rank second all-time in school history for a
single season.
Mississippi State finished the 2011 season with a school-record 19 touchdown passes, coming on senior Chris Relf’s touchdown pass to Arceto
Clark in the first half.

Mullen's mark impressive

MSU coach Dan Mullen bettered his record to 20-0 when leading after three quarters, while the Bulldogs won their 34th-straight contest when
holding a lead entering the final quarter.

First meeting for teams

This was the first meeting again Wake Forest despite playing 29 previous games against current members of the ACC.

Ballard's big night

All-Southeastern Conference running back Vick Ballard ran for a career-high 180 yards on 14 carries, the second-most by a Bulldog in a bowl game in school history.
Ballard’s 72-yard touchdown run was the longest by a Bulldog in a bowl game all-time.
He ended his career with 2,157 rushing yards (10th all-time), accomplished in just two seasons as a Bulldog. He finished his career tied for fifth in career points scored and tied for 10th in touchdowns responsible for (29).
Ballard ended the season with 1,189 rushing yards which is good for fourth all-time.

Relf gets 15th win

Relf finished his career as the all-time winningest quarterback in MSU history (15-7, .681).
He ranks fifth in touchdown passes, seventh in touchdowns responsible for and eighth in passing yardage.

Cox's block party

All-American Fletcher Cox blocked his fifth career kick with the Bulldogs against Wake Forest in the Music City Bowl.
Cox also blocked field goals against Houston in 2009, Auburn in 2010, and Arkansas in 2011, He blocked an extra point against Ole Miss in 2010.