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Mississippi State

Jeff Lebby reveals his stance on mayonnaise ahead of Duke's Mayo Bowl, possible bath

Chandler Vesselsby: Chandler Vessels2 hours agoChandlerVessels

Jeff Lebby is not a fan of mayonnaise. However, the Mississippi State coach will have no choice but to embrace it with his team set to play in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan. 2.

In lieu of the traditional Gatorade bath, the winning coach gets a tub of mayonnaise dumped on their head. And while Lebby might not like putting mayo on his sandwiches, he would gladly take his seat on the chair if it means a Bulldogs win.

“I do not (like mayonnaise), but I’ve never been more excited about the opportunity to get it dumped on me,” Lebby joked in a recent press conference. “But no, I do not (like it). Not even a little bit.”

The mayo bath tradition began in 2021, the first season that Duke’s took over as a sponsor for the game. South Carolina defeated North Carolina by a score of 38-21 in that contest, and Shane Beamer became the first coach to be doused in mayonaise.

Since Beamer, three more coaches have gotten the mayo baths after winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Mike Locksley, Neal Brown and PJ Fleck. This year the honor will go to either Lebby or Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert.

It’s not a small amount of mayo that we’re talking either. According to an article from Sporting News, the amount of 4.5 gallons, leaving the victorious coach covered.

Jeff Lebby is in his second season in Starkville, and this will mark the first time that the Bulldogs have made a bowl game. After going 2-10 and failing to win an SEC game in Lebby’s inaugural season, Mississippi State went 5-7 (1-7 SEC) this year.

Blake Shapen has been the quarterback for Mississippi State all season, but will not play in the bowl game as he opted out to prepare for his pro career. That likely means that true freshman KaMario Taylor will make his second career start.

Mississippi State is making a surprise appearance in the bowl game, getting an invitation after both Kansas State and Iowa State opted out of bowls due to coaching changes. That will give Lebby the opportunity to end the year on a high note and gain some positive momentum heading into next season. Kickoff for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl is set for 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 2 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.