The Mississippi State Bulldogs football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Mississippi State Bulldogs football program in various categories,[1] including passing, rushing, total offense, all-purpose yardage, receiving, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season and career leaders. The Bulldogs represent Mississippi State University in the NCAA's Southeastern Conference.
Although Mississippi State began competing in intercollegiate football in 1895,[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in the 1940s. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists, although on some lists records from the 1930s or even the 1900s appear.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
- Since 1955, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
- The NCAA did not allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.[2]
- Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[3] The Bulldogs have played in 12 bowl games since then.
- As of the 2022 season, recent head coach Dan Mullen, who used a spread offensive system, had eight of his nine seasons at Mississippi State (2009–17) in the Bulldogs' ten highest in total offensive yardage,[1] the other two belonging to Mike Leach in 2021 and 2022. During the Mike Leach Era (2020–22), the Bulldogs ran an air raid offense, leading to all three seasons being in the five highest in total passing yards with two seasons in the ten highest in total offensive yardage.
These lists are updated through the 1st game of the 2024 season.
- ^ a b c "2023 Mississippi State Football Record Book" (PDF). Mississippi State University Athletics. 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Freshman eligibility". psu.edu. Daily Collegian. April 24, 1992. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014.