2014 Mississippi State vs Kentucky

Kentucky (5-3, 2-3) gave No. 1 Mississippi State (7-0, 4-0) everything it had in MSU’s first ever game as America’s No. 1 team, but the Bulldogs did just enough to survive with a 45-31 victory in Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington.

The Wildcats and Bulldogs traded scores back and forth for most of the game until eventually Kentucky had to attempt an onside kick trailing by seven late in the fourth quarter. Mississippi State reserve linebacker Christian Holmes returned the onside kick for a touchdown to put the game on ice, devastating the Kentucky fans in attendance in hoping to witness an epic upset.

Tailback Josh Robinson carried the load for Mississippi State, rushing for 198 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Robinson ran hard, breaking a number of tackles, including one run in which he broke six tackles on a 10-yard gain. Quarterback and Heisman contender Dak Prescott threw for a pedestrian 216 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but he added to Robinson’s rushing total with 88 yards and two rushing touchdowns of his own.

Kentucky quarterback Patrick Towles carried the Kentucky offense in a losing effort, throwing for 390 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 76 yards and two more touchdowns. He completed three passes of at least 55 yards, and had a 48-yard run to keep Kentucky within striking distance on the scoreboard. The Cats scored 31 points and Towles never turned the ball over, but Mississippi State remained one touchdown ahead for most of the game.

After Mississippi State broke a 7-7 tie with a field goal late in the first quarter it maintained leads of 17-10, 24-17, 31-24 and 38-31 before Holmes’ touchdown put the game out of reach. Kentucky never led, but it never trailed by more than 14 points.