Mississippi State vs Minnesota head-to-head: position-by-position star ratings, experience, and composite grades on CFB Matchup. They meet Week 2, Saturday, September 12, 2026.
The Breakdown
Mississippi State 63, Minnesota 62 — coin flip. Bulldogs' 4★ receivers versus the 3★ Gopher secondary is the difference.
When Mississippi State has the ball: Three 4★ receivers, all three years in, attack Minnesota's 3★ secondary — the game's clearest mismatch.
When Minnesota has the ball: Darius Taylor runs into a 3.7★ Bulldog linebacker corps; the 3.4★ O-line faces Mississippi State's 3.8★ D-line.
Swing factor: Kamario Taylor's 4★ ceiling with one year played against Drake Lindsey's 3★ and two. Talent versus reps.
X-factor: A Week 2 September Saturday in Minneapolis: Mississippi State travels north into a hostile Gopher crowd.