Mississippi State 19, Illinois 10: Illini lose ReliaQuest Bowl on late FG by Bulldogs

Illinois’ Tarique Barnes (left) and Kenenna Odeluga hound Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers during the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

TAMPA, Fla. — The ReliaQuest Bowl began with a tribute to late Mississippi State coach Mike Leach, the Bulldogs lining up in his favorite formation and remaining still until the  play clock hit zeroes, a delay of game penalty Illinois politely declined.

It ended with the teams coming close to an all-out brawl at midfield, which would have been a terrible shame.