Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Mississippi State Bulldogs, Duke's Mayo Bowl

College FootballDuke's Mayo Bowl

Wake Forest

9-4

43-29

Final

Mississippi St

5-8

Bank of America Stadium

Drive chart

Drives

End of Half
Downs
Touchdown
Punt
Touchdown
Touchdown

Team	1	2	3	4	T
WAKE	15	0	15	13	43
MSST	6	3	11	9	29

Who won: Wake Forest 43-29

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 43-29 in Duke's Mayo Bowl on Friday, January 2, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium. Robby Ashford led the Wake Forest in passing yards (20/33, 303 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT). Kamario Taylor led the Mississippi St in passing yards (13/22, 241 YDS, 1 TD).

Every player rated

Chirp Rating, 3.0 to 10.0

Team stats

WAKEMSST

231st Downs20

9-153rd down efficiency3-14

0-04th down efficiency0-2

451Total Yards408

303Passing294

20/33Comp/Att16/27

9.2Yards per pass10.9

148Rushing114

35Rushing Attempts42

4.2Yards per rush2.7

9-76Penalties7-60

1Turnovers0

0Fumbles lost0

1Interceptions thrown0

31:35Possession28:25

Player of the game

Robby Ashford

WAKE · 20/33, 303 YDS, 3 TD, 1 INT, 2 RUSH TD

9.1

Win probability

100%WAKE final

WAKEMSST

Tap or hover the line to see the play. Dots mark the biggest swings.

Play by play

Q4 0:00WAK
End of game
End of 4th quarter.
Q4 1:02WAK
Rush
Kneel down by #2 R.Ashford at MSU34 for loss of 1 yard
2nd & 11 at MSST 33
Q4 1:02
Stuffed for a loss of 1
Kneel down by #2 R.Ashford at MSU33 for loss of 1 yard
R. Ashford · 14 CAR, 50 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at MSST 32
Q4 1:02
Sacked for a loss of 0
No Huddle-Shotgun #17 L.Kromenhoek sacked for loss of 5 yards to the MSU32 (#3 K.Prunty), TURNOVER ON DOWNS
L. Kromenhoek · 3/5, 53 YDS · 4th & 5 · 4th & 5 at MSST 37
Q4 1:52
Incomplete to A. Williams
No Huddle-Shotgun #17 L.Kromenhoek pass incomplete short left to #11 A.Williams thrown to MSU49
L. Kromenhoek · 3/5, 53 YDS · 3rd & 5 · 3rd & 5 at MSST 37
Q4 1:52
5 yd completion to S. Magee
Shotgun #17 L.Kromenhoek pass complete short right to #13 S.Magee caught at MSU37, for 5 yards to the MSU37 (#3 K.Prunty)
L. Kromenhoek · 3/5, 53 YDS · 2nd & 10 · 2nd & 10 at MSST 32
Q4 1:52
Incomplete to X. Gayten
Shotgun #17 L.Kromenhoek pass incomplete short right to #22 X.Gayten thrown to MSU35 QB hurried by #11 L.Hardy
L. Kromenhoek · 3/5, 53 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at MSST 32
Q4 1:52
11 yd run
Shotgun #1 K.Taylor rush middle for 11 yards gain to the MSU32 (#20 L.Webb Jr.), 1ST DOWN. The previous play is under automatic review - "Runner was down by contact". CALL OVERTURNED. (Original Play: Shotgun #1 K.Taylor rush middle for 8 yards gain to the MSU29 fumbled by #1 K.Taylor at MSU32 forced by #20 L.Webb Jr. recovered by Deacs #21 A.Hall at MSU29, End Of Play)
K. Taylor · 18 CAR, 63 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at MSST 21
Q4 2:00MSS
Timeout
Timeout Mississippi State, clock 02:00
Q4 2:10
12 yd completion to A. Evans III
Shotgun #1 K.Taylor pass complete short left to #3 A.Evans III caught at MSU06, for 12 yards to the MSU21 (#5 D.Patterson), 1ST DOWN
K. Taylor · 13/22, 241 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at MSST 9
Q4 2:10
FLAG
Kickoff returned 16 yds
#97 C.Carlson kickoff 63 yards to the MSU02 #3 A.Evans III return 16 yards to the MSU18 (#41 K.Townes) PENALTY MSU UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (#3 A.Evans III) 9 yards from MSU18 to MSU09
C. Carlson
TOUCHDOWNQ4 2:15
WAK
Touchdown! 62 yd pass
Ty Clark III 62 Yd pass from Robby Ashford (Connor Calvert Kick)
WAKE 43 - 29 MSST
Q4 2:25MSS
Timeout
Timeout Mississippi State, clock 02:25
Q4 2:29
2 yd run
Shotgun #2 R.Ashford rush left for 2 yards gain to the Deacs38 (#10 J.Smith)
R. Ashford · 14 CAR, 50 YDS · 2nd & 9 · 2nd & 9 at WAKE 36
Q4 2:29MSS
Timeout
Timeout Mississippi State, clock 02:29
Q4 2:35
1 yd run
Shotgun #0 T.Clark rush middle for 1 yard gain to the Deacs36 (#16 D.Gullette)
T. Clark III · 17 CAR, 91 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at WAKE 35
Q4 2:35
Punt, 0 yds
#88 E.Pulliam punt 41 yards to the Deacs35, out of bounds at Deacs35
E. Pulliam · 4th & 11 · 4th & 11 at MSST 24
Q4 4:07MSS
FLAG
Flag: penalty
PENALTY MSU Delay Of Game 5 yards from MSU29 to MSU24. NO PLAY
4th & 6 · 4th & 6 at MSST 29
Q4 4:07
Incomplete
Shotgun #1 K.Taylor pass incomplete short right thrown to MSU40
K. Taylor · 13/22, 241 YDS · 3rd & 6 · 3rd & 6 at MSST 29
Q4 4:07
11 yd completion to S. Traore
No Huddle-Shotgun #1 K.Taylor pass complete short right to #8 S.Traore caught at MSU25, for 11 yards to the MSU29 (#5 D.Patterson; #24 D.Hazen). The previous play is under automatic review - "Forward pass". CALL UPHELD
K. Taylor · 13/22, 241 YDS · 2nd & 17 · 2nd & 17 at MSST 18
Q4 4:07
Stuffed for a loss of 7
Shotgun #1 K.Taylor rush left for 7 yards loss to the MSU18, End Of Play
K. Taylor · 18 CAR, 63 YDS · 1st & 10 · 1st & 10 at MSST 25
Q4 4:07WAK
Timeout
Timeout Wake Forest, clock 04:07
Q4 4:07
Kickoff, touchback
#97 C.Carlson kickoff 65 yards to the MSU00, Touchback
C. Carlson
SCOREQ4 4:07
WAK
Kelley Jones Defensive PAT Conversion
WAKE 36 - 29 MSST
TOUCHDOWNQ4 4:07
WAK
Touchdown! 1 yd run
Robby Ashford 1 Yd Run (Connor Calvert PAT blocked)
WAKE 36 - 27 MSST