With Rogers out, Wright helps MSU to 7-3 win

Chris Low, ESPN Senior WriterOct 21, 2023, 08:03 AM ET
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- College football reporter
- Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Graduate of the University of Tennessee

Mike Wright filled in for the injured Will Rogers at quarterback and helped Mississippi State to a low-scoring, 7-3 win over Arkansas on Saturday.

Wright threw a 2-yard pass to Jo’Quavious Marks in the second quarter for the only touchdown of the game as both teams went scoreless in the second half.

Rogers injured his shoulder in Mississippi State’s 41-28 win over Western Michigan on Oct. 7. He made the trip to Fayetteville and was with the team on the sideline but did not play as the Bulldogs (4-3, 1-3 SEC) got their first conference win of the season.

Wright made 11 career starts at Vanderbilt before joining the Bulldogs this offseason as a transfer. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound senior has played in all six games this season, entering Saturday with just 11 pass attempts but ranking second on the team with 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Wright had 11 carries for 60 yards against Arkansas.

Rogers, a record-setting senior, had started in 38 consecutive games dating to a 24-17 win over Vanderbilt on Nov. 7, 2020. He is Mississippi State’s career leader in passing yards (11,964) and passing touchdowns (92) and is the only quarterback in SEC history with more than 1,000 completions.

This is Rogers’ first season in new offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay’s offense after previously playing in Mike Leach’s Air Raid system. Leach died in December, and Zach Arnett was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach.

There is no timetable on Rogers’ return. He will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis.