How to Watch Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest: Duke's Mayo Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – January 2, 2026

Published Jan. 2, 2026 3:28 a.m. ET

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The Duke's Mayo Bowl sees Blake Shapen and the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons square off on Friday, January 2, 2026. The matchup starts at 8 p.m. ET and airs on ESPN. Tune in to ESPN to watch the Bulldogs take on the Demon Deacons.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports. Learn more about the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

How to Watch Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest

When: Friday, January 2, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: FOX One + ESPN Bundle

Mississippi State's 2025 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/30/2025	at Southern Miss	W 34-17
9/6/2025	vs. Arizona State	W 24-20
9/13/2025	vs. Alcorn State	W 63-0
9/20/2025	vs. Northern Illinois	W 38-10
9/27/2025	vs. Tennessee	L 41-34
10/4/2025	at Texas A&M	L 31-9
10/18/2025	at Florida	L 23-21
10/25/2025	vs. Texas	L 45-38
11/1/2025	at Arkansas	W 38-35
11/8/2025	vs. Georgia	L 41-21
11/15/2025	at Missouri	L 49-27
11/28/2025	vs. Ole Miss	L 38-19
1/2/2026	vs. Wake Forest	-

Mississippi State 2025 Stats & Insights

Mississippi State is compiling 398.4 yards per game on offense, which ranks 56th in the FBS. Defensively, the Bulldogs rank 105th, surrendering 405.8 yards per contest.
Mississippi State is averaging 237 passing yards per game on offense this season (58th in the FBS), and is giving up 216.3 passing yards per game (59th) on the other side of the ball.
The Bulldogs are averaging 30.5 points per game on offense this year (42nd in the FBS), and they are giving up 29.2 points per game (95th) on defense.
Despite sporting a bottom-25 run defense that ranks 19th-worst in the FBS (189.5 rushing yards allowed per game), the Bulldogs have put up better results on offense, ranking 62nd in the FBS by averaging 161.4 rushing yards per game.
Mississippi State is posting a 44.1% third-down percentage on offense, which ranks them 33rd in the FBS. On the defensive side of the ball, the defense ranks 69th, surrendering a 39.6% third-down conversion rate.
The Bulldogs rank 53rd in college football with a +2 turnover margin after forcing 17 turnovers (57th in the FBS) and committing 15 (50th in the FBS).

Mississippi State 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Blake Shapen	QB	2,436 YDS (64.1%) / 15 TD / 8 INT 26 RUSH YDS / 3 RUSH TD / 2.4 RUSH YPG
Brenen Thompson	WR	53 REC / 948 YDS / 6 TD / 79 YPG
Davon Booth	RB	552 YDS / 7 TD / 46 YPG / 4.1 YPC 15 REC / 165 REC YDS / 2 REC TD / 18.3 REC YPG
Kamario Taylor	QB	388 YDS (54.5%) / 4 TD / 1 INT 395 RUSH YDS / 7 RUSH TD / 39.5 RUSH YPG
Brylan Lanier	DB	59 TKL / 2 TFL / 1 SACK / 3 INT
Nic Mitchell	LB	68 TKL / 4 TFL / 2.5 SACK / 1 INT
Jahron Manning	DB	79 TKL / 3 TFL / 1 INT / 1 PD
Isaac Smith	DB	54 TKL / 1 TFL / 1 SACK / 1 INT

Wake Forest's 2025 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/29/2025	vs. Kennesaw State	W 10-9
9/6/2025	vs. Western Carolina	W 42-10
9/11/2025	vs. North Carolina State	L 34-24
9/27/2025	vs. Georgia Tech	L 30-29
10/4/2025	at Virginia Tech	W 30-23
10/11/2025	at Oregon State	W 39-14
10/25/2025	vs. SMU	W 13-12
11/1/2025	at Florida State	L 42-7
11/8/2025	at Virginia	W 16-9
11/15/2025	vs. North Carolina	W 28-12
11/22/2025	vs. Delaware	W 52-14
11/29/2025	at Duke	L 49-32
1/2/2026	vs. Mississippi State	-

Wake Forest 2025 Stats & Insights

Wake Forest's defense has been leading the charge for the team, as it ranks 23rd-best in the FBS with 321.9 total yards surrendered per game. In terms of offense, it is generating 389.1 total yards per game, which ranks 68th.
From an offensive standpoint, Wake Forest is generating 232.3 passing yards per contest (62nd-ranked). It ranks 39th in the FBS on the other side of the ball (199.7 passing yards allowed per game).
In terms of points scored the Demon Deacons rank 73rd in the FBS (26.8 points per game), and they are 39th defensively (21.5 points allowed per game).
From an offensive angle, the Demon Deacons are compiling 156.8 rushing yards per game (69th-ranked). They rank 28th in the FBS on defense (122.3 rushing yards given up per game).
From an offensive angle, Wake Forest is posting a 38.3% third-down conversion rate (85th-ranked). It ranks 48th in the FBS on the other side of the ball (36.6% third-down rate allowed).
The Demon Deacons have recorded 15 forced turnovers (74th in the FBS) and committed 20 turnovers (105th in the FBS) this season for a -5 turnover margin that ranks 103rd in the FBS.

Wake Forest 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Robby Ashford	QB	2,169 YDS (59.2%) / 9 TD / 7 INT 504 RUSH YDS / 7 RUSH TD / 45.8 RUSH YPG
Demond Claiborne	RB	907 YDS / 10 TD / 75.6 YPG / 5.1 YPC 28 REC / 140 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 12.7 REC YPG
Chris Barnes	WR	39 REC / 547 YDS / 3 TD / 49.7 YPG
Carlos Hernandez	WR	34 REC / 538 YDS / 3 TD / 44.8 YPG
Langston Hardy	DL	62 TKL / 10 TFL / 6.5 SACK
Nick Andersen	DB	90 TKL / 4 TFL / 0.5 SACK
Dylan Hazen	LB	63 TKL / 4 TFL
Nuer Gatkuoth	DL	33 TKL / 6 TFL / 6 SACK / 1 INT