Red Wolves Make History with Xbox Bowl Victory
Arkansas State didn’t just win a bowl game Thursday night — the Red Wolves made history.
A-State surged out of the gate, built a commanding first-half lead and then held off a furious late rally from Missouri State to secure a 34-28 victory in the inaugural Xbox Bowl inside The Ford Center at The Star. The win capped the 2025 season at 7-6 overall and delivered the program its sixth bowl victory, while marking the second time Arkansas State has won bowl games in back-to-back seasons.
The Red Wolves wasted little time asserting control. Quarterback Jaylen Raynor was sharp early, spreading the ball and attacking downfield, while the defense set the tone with relentless pressure. Arkansas State carried a 24-7 lead into halftime and stretched the margin to 31-7 midway through the third quarter before Missouri State mounted its comeback attempt.
Senior wide receiver Corey Rucker was the star of the night, earning Xbox Bowl Offensive Most Valuable Player honors after catching six passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. His 71-yard scoring grab late in the first quarter flipped momentum and energized the Red Wolves’ sideline.
That touchdown also cemented Rucker’s place in Arkansas State history. With his 27th career touchdown reception, he surpassed Omar Bayless to become the program’s all-time leader. Rucker closed his collegiate career with 4,121 receiving yards, finishing 21st among all Division I FBS receivers.
Raynor completed 17 of 31 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns, tossing his 50th career touchdown pass and becoming just the fourth quarterback in program history to reach that milestone. He recorded multiple touchdown passes for the seventh time this season and the 16th time of his career.
Kenyon Clay led the Red Wolves on the ground with 53 yards on 11 carries, while Devin Spencer scored Arkansas State’s lone rushing touchdown during a decisive third-quarter drive. Jaylen Bonelli added his third touchdown reception of the season, and Chauncy Cobb hauled in the first touchdown catch of his career.
Defensively, Arkansas State delivered one of its most disruptive performances of the season. The Red Wolves finished with 14 tackles for loss and eight sacks, the second-most they recorded in a game this year, while also recovering a fumble and a muffed punt. Senior linebacker Kyle Taylor anchored the effort with 10 tackles, earning Xbox Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player honors and posting his fifth double-digit tackle performance of the season.
Senior defensive end Demarcus Hendricks recorded multiple sacks for the fourth time this year and tied for the ninth-most sacks in a single season in program history. Ethan Hassler and Cody Sigler each added 1.5 sacks, matching career highs.
Special teams also played a key role. Junior kicker Clune Van Andel drilled a career-long 54-yard field goal late in the second quarter, the longest field goal ever made by an Arkansas State kicker in a bowl game and the sixth-longest in program history. Van Andel accounted for 10 points on the night with two field goals and four extra points, moving into fifth place on the program’s all-time scoring list among kickers.
Missouri State refused to go quietly, scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to six points in the final two minutes. But Arkansas State’s early dominance and timely defensive pressure proved enough to seal the win.
With Jaylen Raynor and AG McGhee serving as team captains, the Red Wolves reached the seven-win mark for the 28th time in program history and the 11th time as an FBS member.
Arkansas State now stands 6-7 all-time in FBS bowl games.