Missouri State vs Arkansas State Xbox Bowl final score, highlights

FRISCO, TX — Missouri State football ended a historic season, in which it qualified for a bowl game in its first season as an FBS program, with a loss in the Xbox Bowl.

The Bears made a late push, but came up short in a 34-28 loss to Arkansas State on Thursday, Dec. 18, in the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Thus ends one of the best years in Bears football history, their first in Conference USA, where they went 7-6 and had their first six wins over FBS programs since 1990. Mo State won five one-score games, while reaching feats that were once thought impossible for a once-disastrous program.

Thursday night marked the end of the six-year Petrino family era for Missouri State, as news broke earlier in the day that the school was finalizing the hire of SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods as its next head coach. Woods will replace Ryan Beard, who didn’t coach in the Xbox Bowl after accepting the head coaching position at Coastal Carolina. Woods’ hiring is expected to be announced on Dec. 19.

The Springfield News-Leader is bringing you live updates from Frisco, Texas. Follow for live updates.

Watch Missouri State vs Arkansas State on ESPN+

Missouri State vs Arkansas State in Xbox Bowl live score

This section will be updated throughout the game

Final — Arkansas State 34, Missouri State 28

Jacob Clark to Jmariyae Robinson for a touchdown

Clark to Robinson for a 16-yard score with 1:54 left. Bears have to get the onside kick.

Missouri State has first-and-goal at the 16

A 59-yard pass to Dash Luke has the Bears in position to strike at the two-minute warning. Bears at the ASU 16.

Arkansas State misses field goal

The Bears have a pulse again? MSU ball at its 20 with 3:20 left.

Missouri State muffs punt when it just got a pulse

Dash Luke muffs a punt with 3:50 left, and the Red Wolves recover. Dang.

Jacob Clark throws pretty TD to Dash Luke

A dime down the middle of the field to Dash Luke goes for a 47-yard touchdown. Luke has 110 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. Clark is up to 23-31 for 274 yards and three scores. Two-point conversion ruled short.

Missouri State forces Arkansas State punt

Bears ball at their own 48.

Arkansas State recovers strip-sack

From the ASU 34, Clark is hit and he fumbles. Red Wolves ball with 9:01 left and this one is ovah.

Arkansas State knocks in field goal

A 32-yard field goal with 12:43 left extends the Red Wolves’ lead back up to three scores.

Jacob Clark hits Ramone Green for TD to open fourth quarter

A beautiful ball from Jacob Clark to Ramone Green for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Bears cut Arkansas State’s lead to 31-15 with 14:52 left in the game. The Bears go for two and get it. It’s suddenly a two-score game.

Missouri State in scoring position

The Bears are at the Red Wolves’ 15, facing third-and-11, to begin the fourth quarter.

Missouri State takes over at its own 10

This game is sloooooooow. Bears need to make this score respectable or something on this drive.

Devin Spencer runs for 25-yard touchdown

Arkansas State went 65 yards in less than two minutes. Devin Spencer runs in a touchdown from 25 yards out. Bears down 31-7 with 10:23 left in the third.

Arkansas State, Missouri State trade punts

Red Wolves ball at their own 35.

Arkansas State takes 24-7 lead into halftime

Jacob Clark is 13-16 for 115 yards and a touchdown, but he’s been sacked four times, and there have been a pair of untimely penalties. Red Wolves have eight tackles for a loss. Defense is struggling to get stops and has been giving up big plays, allowing four passes of 21 yards or more.

Missouri State, Arkansas State trade punts

Bears ball at their own 24 with 69 seconds left in the half.

Arkansas State back in the endzone

This game is in danger of getting away from the Bears. Jaylen Raynor hit Hunter Summers for a 39-yard diving completion. The Wolves score two plays later on a four-yard touchdown pass. It’s 24-7 Wolves with 6:14 left in the half.

Missouri State penalty, sack allowed kills another drive

Jacob Clark scrambled for 15, but it was called back because of a hold. He was sacked for the second time right after. Arkansas State returns the punt 35 yards to the MSU 44.

Arkansas State boots 54-yard field goal

The Bears kept the Wolves out of the endzone for the first time tonight, but Clune Van Andel boots a 54-yard field goal. Wolves up 17-7 with 12:40 left in the half.

Jacob Clark to Dash Luke for a Missouri State TD

Jacob Clark rolls out to his left, gets a corner to bite and throws a 39-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Dash Luke to get the Bears on the board. Arkansas State up 14-7 with 17 seconds left in the quarter.

Arkansas State strikes with deep touchdown

A deep ball from Jaylen Raynor to Corey Rucker is perfect, and he goes 71 yards to the house. The Bears’ defense isn’t looking good. It’s 14-0 with 2:51 left in the first quarter.

Missouri State moved the ball, but Arkansas State got to Jacob Clark again

The Bears got to the Red Wolves’ 36, but were flagged for holding. Their drive stalls after Jacob Clark was sacked. Wolves ball at their five.

Arkansas State quickly drives down the field for a score

The Bears struggled to tackle, and the Red Wolves took advantage. They go 55 yards in five plays to take an early 7-0 lead just four minutes in.

Missouri State goes three-and-out to start the game

The pass rush is getting after Jacob Clark with his makeshift offensive line. They’re immediately forced to punt. Wolves ball at their 45.

Missouri State vs Arkansas State pregame notes

8:03 p.m. — Missouri State will receive the opening kick.

7:56 p.m. — Nick Petrino’s offensive line is expected to be pretty thin tonight. Cash Hudson is playing, despite it looking like he’s portal-bound. But they could be down a couple more with Ebubedike Nnabugwu and others expected to be out.

7:34 p.m. — Here’s your next Missouri State football coach, which I was able to confirm. SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods will be announced as head coach on Friday morning after a Missouri State Board of Governors meeting.

7:29 p.m. — Hello, Springfield. Nice to talk to you again. What a moment for Missouri State as it participates in its first bowl game. The joy on the supporters’ faces has already made this a special night.

What time does Missouri State vs Arkansas State start?

• Date: Thursday, Dec. 18
• Time: 8 p.m. CT
• Location: Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas

The Bears and Red Wolves are scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. CT on Thursday, Dec. 18, from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

What TV channel is Missouri State vs Arkansas State on today?

• TV channel: ESPN2
• Streaming: ESPN+

Missouri State will take on Arkansas State on ESPN2 with Jorge Sedano, Rodney McCloud and Victoria Arlen on the call. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+.

Watch Missouri State vs Arkansas State on ESPN+

Missouri State vs Arkansas State predictions in Xbox Bowl

• Wyatt Wheeler: Missouri State over Arkansas State
• Matt Hayes: Missouri State over Arkansas State
• Jordan Mendoza: Missouri State over Arkansas State
• Paul Meyerberg: Arkansas State over Missouri State
• Erick Smith: Arkansas State over Missouri State
• Eddie Timanus: Arkansas State over Missouri State
• Blake Toppmeyer: Missouri State over Arkansas State

Missouri State vs Arkansas State odds, spread for Xbox Bowl

Odds courtesy of BetMGM on the morning of Monday, Dec. 15

• Spread: Arkansas State -1 1/2
• Over/under: 56 1/2
• Moneyline: ARST -115, MOST -105

College Football Playoff schedule 2025-26

• First round: Dec. 19 and 20
• Quarterfinals: Dec. 31 and Jan. 2
• Semifinals: Jan. 8 and 9
• National championship: Jan. 19

Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com