2012 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

Mississippi State Bulldogs football
	2012 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Gator Bowl vs. #21 Northwestern, L 20–34
Conference	Southeastern Conference
	Western Division
2012 record	8–5 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach	Dan Mullen (4th season)
Offensive coordinator	Les Koenning (4th season)
Offensive scheme	Spread Option
Defensive coordinator	Chris Wilson (3rd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Davis Wade Stadium (Capacity: 55,082)
	Seasons ← 2011 2013 →

The 2012 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Dan Mullen, who was in fourth season with Mississippi State. The Bulldogs played their home games at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi, and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

ScheduleEdit

Date	Time	Opponent^#	Rank^#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1*	6:00 PM	Jackson State		Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS	SECRN	W 56–9	55,082
September 8	11:00 AM	Auburn		Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS	ESPN	W 28–10	56,111
September 15*	6:00 PM	at Troy		Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL	ESPN3	W 30–24	29,013
September 22*	6:00 PM	South Alabama	#23	Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS	Bulldog Sports Properties	W 30–10	55,186
October 6	11:21 AM	at Kentucky	#20	Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY (Rivalry)	SECN	W 27–14	49,498
October 13	8:00 PM	Tennessee	#19	Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS	ESPN2	W 41–31	57,831
October 20*†	6:00 PM	Middle Tennessee	#15	Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS	ESPN2	W 45–3	55,108
October 27	7:30 PM	at #1 Alabama	#13	Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL (The Battle for Highway 82)	ESPN	L 7–38	101,821
November 3	11:00 AM	#16 Texas A&M	#17	Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS	ESPN	L 13–38	55,240
November 10	6:00 PM	at #9 LSU	#22	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA	ESPN	L 17–37	92,831
November 17	11:21 AM	Arkansas		Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS	SECN	W 45–14	54,838
November 24	6:00 PM	at Ole Miss	#25	Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS (Egg Bowl)	ESPNU	L 24–41	61,005
January 1*	11:00 AM	vs. #21 Northwestern		EverBank Field • Jacksonville, FL (Gator Bowl)	ESPN2	L 20–34	48,612
*Non-Conference Game. ^†Homecoming. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Schedule Source:^[1]

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
	Week
Poll
AP	RV	RV	RV	23	21	20	19	15	13	17	22	RV	25	RV	NR	Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Coaches'	RV	RV	RV	23	19	19	18	16	12	18	23	RV	24	RV	RV	Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Harris	Not released						17	14	12	15	20	25	23	RV	RV Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
BCS	Not released							12	11	15	21	NR	NR	NR	NR Expression error: Unexpected < operator.