The 2025 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs were led by second-year head coach Jeff Lebby. The team played its home games at Davis Wade Stadium located in Starkville.
The team managed to improve upon its 2–10 record of the previous season with their win in Week 3 over Alcorn State, as well as a 4–0 start, their first since 2014, including an upset win over then No. 12 Arizona State. The team also snapped a 16–game losing streak in SEC play dating back to 2023 with a win over Arkansas. Despite a promising 4–0 start, the team instead floundered to a 1–7 record in SEC play.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs drew an average home attendance of 53,186, the 38th-highest of all college football teams.
Schedule
Game summaries at Southern Miss
Statistics MSSTUSM First downs 23 18 Plays–yards 79–465 74–301 Rushes–yards 42–188 35–104 Passing yards 277 199 Passing: –– 27–37–1 26–39–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 30:21 29:39 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 26/34, 270 yards, TD, INT Rushing Davon Booth 16 carries, 79 yards, TD Receiving Brenen Thompson 7 receptions, 92 yards Southern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 26/39, 199 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Braylon Braxton 12 carries, 58 yards Receiving Jeffery Pittman 6 receptions, 52 yards
vs No. 12 Arizona State
Statistics ASUMSST First downs 23 17 Plays–yards 74–333 63–345 Rushes–yards 51–251 30–66 Passing yards 82 279 Passing: comp–att–int 10–23–2 19–33–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 37:57 22:03 Team Category Player Statistics Arizona State Passing Sam Leavitt 10/22, 82 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Raleek Brown 18 carries, 110 yards Receiving Jordyn Tyson 6 receptions, 68 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 19/33, 279 yards, 3 TD Rushing Fluff Bothwell 8 carries, 34 yards Receiving Brenen Thompson 6 receptions, 133 yards, 2 TD
vs Alcorn State
Statistics ALCNMSST First downs 9 23 Plays–yards 48–161 54–514 Rushes–yards 27–68 36–282 Passing yards 93 232 Passing: comp–att–int 13-21-1 13-18-1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 43:07 16:53 Team Category Player Statistics Alcorn State Passing Jaylon Tolbert 11/18, 80 yards, INT Rushing Jacorian Sewell 8 carries, 21 yards Receiving Damien Jones 4 receptions, 21 yards Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 10/14, 173 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Fluff Bothwell 12 carries, 93 yards, 2 TD Receiving Anthony Evans III 4 receptions, 66 yards, TD
vs Northern Illinois
Statistics NIUMSST First downs 14 23 Plays–yards 52–267 69–452 Rushes–yards 27–125 49–292 Passing yards 142 160 Passing: comp–att–int 15–25–1 12–20–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:05 31:55 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Illinois Passing Josh Holst 14/23, 135 yards, TD, INT Rushing Chavon Wright 13 carries, 47 yards Receiving DeAree Rogers 6 receptions, 84 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 12/20, 160 yards, TD Rushing Fluff Bothwell 17 carries, 101 yards Receiving Anthony Evans III 4 receptions, 80 yards
vs No. 15 Tennessee
Statistics TENNMSST First downs 24 24 Plays–yards 72–466 86–378 Rushes–yards 32–131 57–198 Passing yards 335 180 Passing: comp–att–int 24–40–2 18–29–1 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 27:37 32:23 Team Category Player Statistics Tennessee Passing Joey Aguilar 24/40, 335 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing DeSean Bishop 11 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Chris Brazzell II 6 receptions, 105 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 18/29, 189 yards, TD, INT Rushing Fluff Bothwell 23 carries, 135 yards, 2 TD Receiving Seydou Traore 4 receptions, 40 yards, TD
at No. 6 Texas A&M
Statistics MSSTTA&M First downs 14 23 Plays–yards 51–219 77–479 Rushes–yards 31–77 54–299 Passing yards 142 180 Passing: comp–att–int 15–20–1 13–23–1 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 21:43 38:17 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 15/20, 142 yards, TD, INT Rushing Fluff Bothwell 14 carries, 60 yards Receiving Brenen Thompson 2 receptions, 54 yards, TD Texas A&M Passing Marcel Reed 13/23, 2 TD, INT Rushing Rueben Owens II 21 carries, 142 yards Receiving Mario Craver 6 receptions, 80 yards
at Florida
Statistics MSSTFLA First downs 22 25 Plays–yards 80–468 68–452 Rushes–yards 44–144 33–172 Passing yards 324 280 Passing: –– 24–36–1 20–34–2Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 30:05 29:55 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 24/36, 324 yards, INT Rushing Davon Booth 22 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brenen Thompson 7 receptions, 155 yards Florida Passing DJ Lagway 20/34, 280 yards, 2 INT Rushing Jadan Baugh 23 carries, 150 yards, TD Receiving Vernell Brown III 5 receptions, 95 yards
vs No. 22 Texas
Statistics TEXMSST First downs 22 25 Plays–yards 79–428 86–445 Rushes–yards 32–72 43–63 Passing yards 356 382 Passing: comp–att–int 30–47–1 27–43–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 30:01 29:59 Team Category Player Statistics Texas Passing Arch Manning 29–46, 346 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Quintrevion Wisner 12 carries, 41 yards Receiving Ryan Wingo 5 receptions, 184 yards Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 26–42, 381 yards, 4 TD Rushing Davon Booth 24 carries, 99 yards Receiving Davon Booth 3 receptions, 85 yards, TD
at Arkansas
Statistics MSSTARK First downs 21 24 Plays–yards 71–388 77–433 Rushes–yards 38–106 46–239 Passing yards 282 194 Passing: comp–att–int 16–28–1 19–31–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 25:39 34:21 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 16–28, 242 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kamario Taylor 6 carries, 55 yards, TD Receiving Anthony Evans III 5 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD Arkansas Passing Taylen Green 19–31, 194 yards, TD Rushing Mike Washington Jr. 19 carries, 116 yards, TD Receiving Rohan Jones 4 receptions, 65 yards
vs No. 5 Georgia
Statistics UGAMSST First downs 30 18 Plays–yards 74–567 68–322 Rushes–yards 44–303 43–149 Passing yards 264 173 Passing: comp–att–int 18–30–0 16–25–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:07 26:53 Team Category Player Statistics Georgia Passing Gunner Stockton 18/29, 264 yards, 3 TD Rushing Nate Frazier 12 carries, 181 yards, TD Receiving Noah Thomas 3 receptions, 78 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Kamario Taylor 6/10, 87 yards Rushing Kamario Taylor 12 carries, 53 yards, 3 TD Receiving Brenen Thompson 4 receptions, 92 yards
at Missouri
Statistics MSSTMIZ First downs 27 17 Plays–yards 90–345 55–438 Rushes–yards 52–110 39–326 Passing yards 235 112 Passing: comp–att–int 23–38–2 8–16–1 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 36:42 23:18 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 19/33, 199 yards, 2 INT Rushing Davon Booth 10 carries, 34 yards Receiving Anthony Evans III 7 receptions, 71 yards Missouri Passing Matt Zollers 8/15, 112 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ahmad Hardy 25 carries, 300 yards, 3 TD Receiving Kevin Coleman Jr. 4 receptions, 41 yards
vs No. 7 Ole Miss (Egg Bowl)
Statistics MISSMSST First downs 29 22 Plays–yards 75–545 74–440 Rushes–yards 41–186 43–262 Passing yards 359 178 Passing: comp–att–int 23–34–0 15–31–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 31:23 28:37 Team Category Player Statistics Ole Miss Passing Trinidad Chambliss 23/34, 359 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kewan Lacy 27 carries, 143 yards, TD Receiving Deuce Alexander 2 receptions, 94 yards, TD Mississippi State Passing Kamario Taylor 15/31, 178 yards, INT Rushing Kamario Taylor 20 carries, 173 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brenen Thompson 6 receptions, 80 yards
vs. Wake Forest (Duke's Mayo Bowl)
Statistics WFMSST First downs 23 20 Plays–yards 68–451 69–408 Rushes–yards 35–148 42–114 Passing yards 303 294 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–33–1 16–27–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 31:35 28:25 Team Category Player StatisticsWake Forest Passing Robby Ashford 20/33, 303 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ty Clark III 17 carries, 91 yards Receiving Carlos Hernandez 6 receptions, 73 yardsMississippi State Passing Kamario Taylor 13/22, 241 yards, TD Rushing Kamario Taylor 18 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Brenen Thompson 4 receptions, 106 yards
Personnel
References