Recap: Mississippi State football caps season with emotional victory in Reliaquest Bowl

TAMPA, Fla. — It has been an eventful and tragic month-plus for Mississippi State football since winning the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving. Players have come and go in the portal. Coach Mike Leach died unexpectedly on Dec. 12. Defensive coordinator Zach Arnett was named head coach a couple days later. The early signing period opened a week later.

In the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday (11 a.m., ESPN2), football takes the forefront again. For three-plus hours, MSU (8-4, 4-4 SEC) has a chance to worry about routes and schemes in a battle against Illinois (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten).

Mississippi State football score vs. Illinois: Live updates from ReliaQuest Bowl

Fourth quarter

FINAL: Mississippi State 19, Illinois 10. Illinois pitches it around, but it eventually lands to Marcus Banks for a touchdown.

INSTANT ANALYSIS: In honoring Mike Leach, Mississippi State football takes down Illinois in ReliaQuest Bowl

What a way for the game to end, given the circumstances.

Massimo Biscardi hits game-winning field goal for Mississippi State

4 seconds left: Massimo Biscardi is good from 27 yards out. It's the go-ahead and likely game-winning kick.

Mississippi State 13, Illinois 10.

12 seconds left: How about the patience of Simeon Price? He waits and finds the hole, then bursts for a 28-yard gain to the Illinois 2-yard line. Bulldogs are a chip-shot field goal away from victory.

57 seconds left: Simeon Price with a 12-yard carry off the left side, inside the Illinois' 35.

1:25 left: Rogers to Jaden Walley to the Illinois' 45-yard line.

1:44 left: Rogers to Lideatrick Griffin for 19 yards to start this drive. Can MSU win this in the final minutes?

2:00 left: Illinois QB Tommy DeVito throws long on third down. Incomplete, and he had Isaiah Williams open. Illinois will punt.

4:40 left: Rogers' pass is deflected and incomplete on 3rd and 12 near midfield. Mississippi State will punt.

6:40 left: Marks for 16 yards and Simeon Price for 14 yards on the ground. Two best runs of the day.

8:09 left: Illinois punts from near midfield.

10:23 left: A Cameron Young sack of DeVito sets up third and long, but defensive holding on the next play gives Illinois a third down. It was 3rd and 26. Remember that play.

Mississippi State ties it up on fourth down TD

14:54 left: Rogers to Justin Robinson for an 8-yard TD pass on fourth down. Rogers showed a lot of patience before finding Robinson in the back of the end zone.

PAT good. Mississippi State 10, Illinois 10.

Third quarter

2:30 left: Another third down conversion, on a Jaden Walley slant. MSU in the red zone.

3:59 left: Big third down conversion on a Rogers pass to Justin Robinson. MSU inside the Illinois 30-yard line.

6:57 left: Illinois' Caleb Griffin is attempting another 52 yard kick, and it's good.

Illinois 10, Mississippi State 3.

12:10 left: Mississippi State also goes three-and-out to start the second half. Bulldogs have 17 rushing yards on 17 carries so far.

13:54 left: On third down, Emmanuel Forbes strips Illinois receiver Pat Bryant, and the Bulldogs recover. But after review, the pass is incomplete.

Second quarter

9 seconds left: Massimo Biscardi is good from 38 yards out.

Illinois 7, Mississippi State 3, just before halftime.

1:17 left: Jaden Walley to Will Rogers (!) for a first down.

2:02 left: Justin Robinson takes a crossing route and runs down the left sideline for a 25-yard gain. MSU driving.

Illinois opens the scoring with a Tommy DeVito TD run

2:49 left: Illinois' Tommy DeVito tumbles into the end zone for a 2-yard TD run. PAT good.

Illinois 7, Mississippi State 0. A 10-play, 77-yard drive.

6:00 left: Tommy DeVito to Isaiah Williams for 41 yards. Illinois driving.

7:34 left: Rogers again intercepted, this time on an ill-advised deep shot while trying to scramble. Let's call it an arm punt.

13:07 left: Rogers is intercepted near the goal line by Illinois' Matthew Bailey after the pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage. Huge change.

14:52 left: Will Rogers is getting into a rhythm, as the Bulldogs drive into the red zone. Rogers is 4 of 4 for 43 yards on this drive.

First quarter

3:52 left: Illinois' Caleb Griffin misses a 52-yard field goal. MSU will have excellent field position.

9:07 left: After a couple first down catches, MSU will punt.

12:39 left: Illinois goes three-and-out in its first drive. Going to be that kind of day.

13:15 left: MSU goes three-and-out after getting to 2nd and 3. Illini defense stood tall against consecutive runs by Jo'quavious Marks.

15:00 left: Mississippi State wins the toss and will receive the opening kickoff.

Mississippi State lines up in a honorary formation and takes a delay of game. Illinois declines the penalty.

Mississippi State honors Mike Leach

MSU will honor Mike Leach today with special helmets among a list of other tributes to the Bulldogs' late coach.

Maroon helmets with a pirate flag and Leach's initials on one side will be worn by every MSU player.

There is also a "MIKE" logo on the field and on Illinois' helmets similar to the ones used by SEC teams and other schools where Leach coached.

FOR MORE: Mississippi State football honoring Mike Leach with pirate helmet at ReliaQuest Bowl

The Mississippi State band also honored Leach pregame.

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Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football score vs Illinois: Live updates in Reliaquest Bowl