Miami (OH) vs. Mississippi State, St. Petersburg Bowl 2016: Time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know

There may not be a better story in college football than the RedHawks, and you probably don’t realize it. Halfway through the season, Miami (OH) was on the doorstep of bowl inelgibility at 0-6. But then they won six straight games, culminating in a 21-20 victory over Ball State. The RedHawks scored late and would hold onto their lead to put the game away.

Mississippi State squeaked into the postseason thanks to an APR score that qualified them as one of only two 5-7 squads to make a bowl game. It may be Dan Mullen’s best work as a head coach of the Bulldogs to replace former standout Dak Prescott with Nick Fitzgerald and continue to at least experience some modicum success in the toughest division in college football.

It is this contrast that will take the field in St. Pete, and hopefully the field looks better this year.

How to watch, stream and listen

TV: 11 a.m. ET, ESPN. The announcers are Dave LaMont, Rene Ingoglia and Chris Doering.

Radio: Mississippi State, Miami (OH).

Online streaming: WatchESPN.

Spread: Mississippi State opened as a 14-point favorite.

Make friends: SB Nation’s For Whom The Cowbell Tolls covers Mississippi State, while Hustle Belt has you covered for any and all postseason #MACtion.

1. Run, run, run. Our friends at for Whom The Cowbell Tolls have implored Mullen to never call a pass play for the Bulldogs. And they’re onto something. The numbers bear out just how successful the Bulldogs are on the ground. In the S&P+ rankings adjusted for opponent, Mississippi State ranks No. 7 in rushing but No. 55 in passing. Since taking over in Week 2, Fitzgerald has only carried the ball fewer than 15 times on three occasions. He’s integral in what the Bulldogs do on the ground.

2. Know Gus Ragland’s name. There’s a common denominator for each of Miami’s six victories, and It’s QB Gus Ragland. At 0-6, Ragland was inserted into the starting lineup and the RedHawks haven’t looked back. There’s no telling what Miami would have been had Ragland played the whole season. He tore his ACL in spring practice and didn’t get healthy until the Kent State game. He has 15 TDs through the air an addition to two on the ground. But his most important number may be zero. That’s the number of interceptions he’s thrown during the winning streak. If Ragland can steer the ship against a Mississippi State defense with 13 picks on the season the RedHawks should be in good shape.

3. What of the rumors surrounding Mullen? Every year right around now Dan Mullen’s name is being floated for any and every college job. Mullen’s been in Starkville since 2009, and it seems like he’ll be around for another campaign because no college team picked him up during this coaching carousel. But there are rumblings that the NFL could calling thanks to what Mullen did with Prescott. The MMQB’s Peter King says Mullen is well-liked by NFL folks. Could this be his last go around with the Bulldogs?