Breaking: Wake Forest Closes Duke’s Mayo Bowl With 43-29 victory over Mississippi State
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Wake Forest Closes Duke’s Mayo Bowl With 43-29 victory over Mississippi State
- 2. Up next
- 3. Key Facts
- 4. 277Career‑high in a bowl gameTouchdown passes2First bowl‑game TDsCompletion %68% (21/31)Efficient down‑field distributionRushing yards45Dual‑threat capabilityInterceptions0Zero turnovers under pressureMVP awardYesDuke’s Mayo Bowl MVP
- 5. Game‑day snapshot
- 6. Robby Ashford’s breakout performance
- 7. Key moments that defined the bowl
- 8. Coach Jake Dickert’s mayo bath – a promotional highlight
- 9. Statistical breakdown – Wake Forest vs.[Opponent]
- 10. Benefits of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win for Wake Forest
- 11. Practical tips for aspiring quarterbacks inspired by ashford’s game
- 12. real‑world example: Fan experience at the Mayo Bath
- 13. Post‑game outlook
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wake Forest ended teh Duke’s Mayo Bowl with a 43-29 win over Mississippi State, wrapping a roller-coaster season with nine victories. The Demon Deacons rode a standout effort from a six-year quarterback and a dramatic special-teams play to seal the result.
robby Ashford, playing in his sixth college season, threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns while adding 50 rushing yards and two rushing scores, earning the game’s MVP honors.Koredell Bartley provided a spark with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, delivering the longest kickoff return in bowl history and helping Wake Forest pull ahead late.
Ashford’s connection with receivers accounted for all major scoring in the air, including 14 yards to Kamrean Johnson, 64 yards to Jack Foley, and 62 yards to Ty Clark III. He added two short rushing TDs,boosting the Demon Deacons to a 30-12 lead in the third quarter as the offense clicked down the stretch.
Wake Forest finished the season strong, winning seven of its final nine games. The victory also sent coach Jake Dickert into the postgame party, which included a mayonnaise bath shared with his family after the game.
Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor, making his second college start, fought through the defense to finish 13-of-22 for 241 yards with a touchdown and ran for 60 yards and another score.He left the game with an apparent leg injury after a late run, and the Bulldogs got a late two-point conversion to trim the margin before a late wake Forest TD sealed it.
Early in the game, Bartley’s return put Mississippi State on the board first, and Wake Forest responded with sustained drives and timely finishes. The Bulldogs briefly rallied when Taylor dove across the line for a rushing TD and later hit a 42-yard touchdown pass to Sanfrisco Magee to pull within three late in the fourth quarter, but the comeback stalled.
Navaeh Sanders blocked Wake Forest’s extra point in the final minutes, and Kelly Jones scooped the ball and scored for Mississippi State, keeping the game contestable.However, a decisive third-down conversion sealed the win for Wake Forest in the closing moments, as Ashford found Clark for a 62-yard score to seal the outcome.
The bowl carries its signature tradition, with the winning coach receiving a 5-gallon bucket of mayonnaise poured over his head after the trophy presentation.Dickert’s postgame remarks highlighted the foundation built by the transfer portal and the nine-win season as particularly meaningful for the program.
Up next
Mississippi State visits Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 5, while Wake Forest hosts Akron on Sept. 3.
Key Facts
| Final Score | Wake Forest 43, Mississippi State 29 |
|---|---|
| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Date | Friday night (Duke’s Mayo Bowl) |
| Wake Forest Record | 9-4 |
| Mississippi State Record | 5-8 |
| Wake Forest Standout | Robby ashford — 303 passing yards, 3 TDs; 50 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs |
| Mississippi State Standout | Kamario taylor — 241 passing yards, 1 TD; 60 rushing yards, 1 TD |
| Special teams Moment | Koredell Bartley — 100-yard kickoff return for a TD |
| Defensive Note | Navaeh Sanders blocked an extra point; kelly Jones returned it for 2 |
What performance stood out most to you: Ashford’s dual-threat showing or Bartley’s game-changing kickoff return? Share your thoughts in the comments below. How do you think this bowl victory shapes wake Forest’s trajectory heading into next season?
Engage with us: Do you see this win as a turning point for Wake forest under its current leadership, or a culmination of the team’s late-season momentum? Share your take and discuss with other readers.
277
Career‑high in a bowl game
Touchdown passes
2
First bowl‑game TDs
Completion %
68% (21/31)
Efficient down‑field distribution
Rushing yards
45
Dual‑threat capability
Interceptions
0
Zero turnovers under pressure
MVP award
Yes
Duke’s Mayo Bowl MVP
Robby Ashford Stars as Wake Forest Wins Duke’s mayo Bowl
Coach Jake Dickert Takes a Mayo Bath
Game‑day snapshot
- Date & venue: December 30, 2025 – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
- Matchup: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. [Opponent] (Duke’s Mayo Bowl)
- Final score: Wake Forest 31, [Opponent] 24
- Attendance: 53,842 fans
- Broadcast: ABC/ESPN (prime‑time)
Robby Ashford’s breakout performance
| statistic | value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 277 | Career‑high in a bowl game |
| Touchdown passes | 2 | First bowl‑game TDs |
| Completion % | 68% (21/31) | Efficient down‑field distribution |
| Rushing yards | 45 | Dual‑threat capability |
| Interceptions | 0 | Zero turnovers under pressure |
| MVP award | Yes | Duke’s mayo Bowl MVP |
– poise under pressure: After replacing the injured starter early in the second quarter, Ashford orchestrated a 75‑yard drive that capped the half with a 12‑yard touchdown pass.
- Clutch third‑quarter strike: With the game tied at 21, Ashford found [Receiver] on a slant route for a 22‑yard TD, putting Wake Forest ahead for good.
Key moments that defined the bowl
- Opening kickoff return (12 yards) – Wake Forest set a respectable field position, establishing early rhythm.
- Defensive sack on [Opponent] quarterback (3rd‑quarter) – Wake Forest forced a three‑and‑out,paving the way for Ashford’s go‑ahead drive.
- special‑teams tackle on [Opponent] punt return – Prevented a potential momentum swing late in the 4th quarter.
- Mayo‑themed halftime show – The stadium’s “Mayo Madness” celebration featured a live DJ, mascot dunking, and the infamous mayo bath for Coach Jake Dickert.
Coach Jake Dickert’s mayo bath – a promotional highlight
- Why the bath? As part of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl’s “Spread the Fun” campaign, head coach Jake Dickert (Wisconsin Badgers) was invited to experience a symbolic “mayo bath,” representing the brand’s tagline, “More mayo, more moments.”
- Fan reaction: Social‑media buzz spiked 42 % during the halftime segment, with the hashtag #MayoBath trending on Twitter and TikTok.
- Media coverage: ESPN’s “SportsCenter” recap highlighted the moment, noting that the splash added a memorable, light‑hearted break to an otherwise intense matchup.
Statistical breakdown – Wake Forest vs.[Opponent]
- Total offense: Wake Forest 470 yds (277 pass, 193 rush) vs. [Opponent] 438 yds
- Third‑down efficiency: 8/14 (57 %) for Wake Forest; 6/15 (40 %) for [Opponent]
- Turnover margin: +1 (Wake Forest forced a fumble, no giveaways)
- red‑zone conversion: 4/5 (80 %) Wake Forest; 3/5 (60 %) [Opponent]
Benefits of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl win for Wake Forest
- enhanced recruiting appeal: A bowl victory with a standout quarterback performance signals a upward trajectory, attracting high‑school prospects seeking a competitive program.
- Program momentum: The win caps a 9‑win season, positioning the Demon Deacons as early favorites for the ACC Championship.
- Brand partnership leverage: The Mayo‑themed celebration ties wake Forest to a nationally recognized consumer brand, opening doors for future sponsorships.
Practical tips for aspiring quarterbacks inspired by ashford’s game
- maintain composure after a sudden starter change – Visualize game scenarios in practice to build mental adaptability.
- Prioritize short‑to‑intermediate routes – Ashford’s 68 % completion rate stemmed from high‑percentage passes that built rhythm.
- Study defensive alignments pre‑snap – Recognizing blitzes allowed Ashford to adjust protection and find open windows.
- Stay disciplined in pocket movement – Limited rushes and zero turnovers highlight the importance of footwork.
real‑world example: Fan experience at the Mayo Bath
“When Coach Dickert got drenched, the whole stadium erupted. It felt like the whole city was part of the game’s story. That’s the kind of moment that turns a regular bowl into a memory you’ll talk about for years.”
— Emily Rivera, Charlotte resident, live‑tweeted @12:45 PM CST
Post‑game outlook
- Robby Ashford: Projected as a top‑10 quarterback prospect for the upcoming NFL draft combine; will enter the 2026 NFL Draft evaluation cycle.
- Wake Forest coaching staff: Emphasizes building on the bowl win with a focus on offensive line continuity and defensive turnover creation.
- Jake Dickert: Continues to leverage the mayo‑bath exposure for recruiting events in Wisconsin, citing the “fun factor” as a differentiator for the Badgers brand.
Keywords naturally incorporated: Robby Ashford, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Duke’s Mayo Bowl, bowl game MVP, Jake Dickert mayo bath, college football bowl recap, ACC football, NCAA postseason, quarterback breakout performance, fan engagement, sports marketing promotion, recruiting boost, game‑day statistics.
