Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State Opt-Out Tracker, Transfers, Injuries, Starting Lineups, Best Bet for Duke's Mayo Bowl
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons will take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Friday evening in Charlotte. Jack Borovitz analyzes this Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State transfer portal and opt-out tracker for Friday, January 2nd in the Duke's Mayo Bowl.
Jack Borovitz - December 28, 2025, 8:00 PM EST
5 Minute ReadWake Forest vs. Mississippi State Preview: Who Is Opting-Out, Injured for Duke's Mayo Bowl on Friday, January 2nd
The Duke's Mayo Bowl features a Friday evening clash between contrasting teams seeking one final victory before the mayonnaise shower in Charlotte. Mississippi State sits as a -3.5 favorite after the line opened at -2.5, a modest move toward the Bulldogs despite a losing record that required Academic Progress Rate ranking to secure bowl eligibility after Kansas State, Iowa State, and Notre Dame declined invitations. Mississippi State enters having lost three straight games, while Wake Forest went 8-4 but lost star running back Demond Claiborne to the NFL Draft.
Mississippi State enters after a disappointing season that saw the Bulldogs finish dead last in SEC play but receive a bowl bid through APR ranking. True freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor earned his first career start in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss, rushing for 173 yards and two scores while throwing for another touchdown in a loss. The highest-rated quarterback in program history, Taylor took over late in the season after sixth-year senior Blake Shapen struggled with injuries and inconsistency. The Bulldogs feature elite speed at receiver with Oklahoma transfer Brenen Thompson leading the SEC in receiving yards and Georgia transfer Anthony Evans III providing a dynamic slot presence. Mississippi State's defense ranks among the worst in FBS, allowing opponents to score at will while struggling particularly against the run. Head coach Jeff Lebby fired defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler and brought back Zach Arnett to reclaim the role.
Wake Forest enters after finishing .500 in ACC play but lost Claiborne to the NFL Draft after he declared in early December. Sixth-year quarterback Hank Bachmeier struggled late in the season, getting benched during the North Carolina loss before returning for the finale against Miami. The former Boise State and Louisiana Tech transfer posted inconsistent numbers throughout the year, and Wake Forest's offense sputtered without a reliable ground game. The Demon Deacons rank significantly better than Mississippi State defensively, allowing far fewer points and total yards per contest. However, Wake Forest allowed opponents to complete passes at an alarming rate, ranking among the worst in the nation alongside Mississippi State in completion percentage allowed.
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Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State Date, Time, and Where to Watch Duke's Mayo Bowl
- Date: Friday, January 2, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- How to Watch: ESPN
Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State Odds
Duke's Mayo Bowl | Odds |
|---|---|
Wake Forest +3.5 (-118) | Mississippi State -3.5 (-102) |
Wake Forest ML (+140) | Mississippi State (-166) |
Over 51.5 Total Points | Under 51.5 Total Points |
Click here for the latest Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State Odds
Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State Opt-Outs Tracker & Injuries
Wake Forest Transfer Portal
- DT Mateen Ibirogba (stud)
- WR Christopher Barnes (323 snaps)
- WR Micah Mays Jr. (one snap in finale)
Wake Forest Potential Opt Outs
- RB Demond Claiborne (declared for NFL draft)
Wake Forest Potential Opt Outs
- RT Fa’alili Fa’amoe
- S Davaughn Patterson
- S Nick Andersen
Wake Forest Injuries
- EDGE Nuer Gatkuoth (missed finale; 390 snaps)
- OG George Steih (last played in Week 12; 514 snaps; freshman Clinton Richard has filled in nicely)
- WR Micah Mays Jr. (one snap in finale)
Mississippi State Transfer Portal
- S Tony Mitchell (374 snaps)
Mississippi State Potential Opt-Outs
- S Isaac Smith
Mississippi State Injuries
- LB Derion Gullette (last played W12)
Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State Odds Breakdown - Duke's Mayo Bowl
Mississippi State's offense features explosive speed at receiver with Brenen Thompson and Anthony Evans III forming one of the SEC's most productive receiving duos. Thompson reunited with Jeff Lebby after playing for him at Oklahoma, bringing elite track speed that creates separation on deep routes and comebacks. The Oklahoma transfer leads the Bulldogs with 868 receiving yards (2nd in SEC) and six touchdowns on 47 catches, while Evans adds 653 yards from the slot. True freshman Kamario Taylor provides dual-threat ability but faces his second career start with minimal experience operating Lebby's spread system. Mississippi State scores over 30 points per game and generates nearly 400 yards per contest, but the Bulldogs struggled mightily on defense throughout the season. The unit allowed opponents to complete over 70% of passes while ranking among the worst nationally in total defense and rush defense.
Wake Forest lost offensive identity when Demond Claiborne declared for the NFL Draft, removing the focal point of Dave Clawson's run-heavy attack. The star back rushed for 907 yards and scored 10 touchdowns before opting out, leaving Wake Forest without a reliable ground threat. Sixth-year quarterback Hank Bachmeier struggled late in the season with inconsistent play, attempting just 14 passes in the Miami finale after getting benched during the North Carolina loss. The Demon Deacons score under 27 points per game while generating under 390 yards per contest, creating one-dimensional situations without Claiborne's explosiveness. Wake Forest's defense ranks significantly better than Mississippi State's unit, allowing roughly 22 points per game compared to the Bulldogs' porous defense that surrenders nearly 30 per contest. However, the Demon Deacons allowed opponents to complete over 70% of passes, creating vulnerability against Thompson's speed and Taylor's dual-threat ability.
From a market perspective, the line opened at Mississippi State -2.5 before moving to -3.5, reflecting confidence in the Bulldogs' offensive firepower despite their losing record and three-game skid. The total ranges from 53.5 to 57.5 depending on the book, with some markets showing movement toward the under while others remain steady. Mississippi State went 8-4 against the spread this season including a perfect 3-0 mark as field goal favorites or more, but enters having failed to cover in three consecutive games during the late-season collapse. Wake Forest went 8-4 against the spread and posted three consecutive overs to close the regular season, but the loss of Claiborne fundamentally alters offensive expectations. The Demon Deacons went 3-1 straight up when opponents completed less than two-thirds of their passes but went 1-7 when allowing more, creating major concern against Thompson's ability to create separation.
Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State Best Bet
- Pick: Mississippi -3.5 (-102) Check out these best odds on DraftKings Sportsbook
The matchup dynamics favor Mississippi State's explosive offensive weapons against Wake Forest's terrible pass defense that allowed opponents to complete over 70% of throws, one of the worst marks in the nation. Thompson's elite speed creates separation on deep routes that Wake Forest's secondary cannot match, and the Demon Deacons went 1-7 when allowing opponents to complete more than two-thirds of their passes. Taylor's dual-threat ability provides Mississippi State with designed run opportunities that attack Wake Forest's average rush defense, and the loss of Claiborne removes Wake Forest's offensive identity in Clawson's run-heavy system. The modest line move from Mississippi State -2.5 to -3.5 represents sharp money recognizing Claiborne's absence and Thompson's advantage against Wake Forest's poor secondary, and Mississippi State went undefeated against the spread this season as field goal favorites while Wake Forest relies on backup running backs and an inconsistent Bachmeier. Zach Arnett's return as defensive coordinator provides fresh energy for Mississippi State's bowl preparation after 15 extra practices, and Taylor's development in Jeff Lebby's system gives the Bulldogs offensive upside that Wake Forest cannot match without their star running back. Lay the field goal with Mississippi State as they cover in Charlotte behind Thompson's speed and Taylor's dual-threat ability.
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