Gameday: Battle of Top 20 Bulldogs Set Between The Hedges Saturday Night on ESPN

ATHENS, Ga. -- For just the third time since 2000, Mississippi State football goes "Between The Hedges" in a battle of Top-20 ranked Bulldogs as No. 17 MSU seeks to remain unbeaten at No. 11 Georgia at 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET Saturday in a sold out Sanford Stadium. For complete gameday information, visit HailState.com/gameday.

MSU (3-0, 1-0 SEC) is in the midst of a three-game stretch against Top-15 ranked teams highlighted by a 37-7 blowout of then-No. 11 LSU last Saturday in Davis Wade Stadium. Georgia (3-0, 0-0) is playing its SEC opener after victories to start the season against Appalachian State, No. 19 Notre Dame and Samford.

Two of the league's top defensive units clash as MSU allows only 9.3 points per game, which is second in the SEC. Georgia gives up 14.9 points per contest, which is fifth in the league. State is the only team in the nation to boast a scoring offense and a scoring defense in the Top 10 nationally. MSU has put up at least 37 points in all three games this year and at least 35 points in eight out of its last 10 games dating back to last season's Kentucky game on Oct. 22.

Viewing Information
The game will be televised live in primetime on ESPN with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline) calling the action. Live streaming video is available via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com. The contest is also being broadcast internationally on ESPN International.

Listening Information
The MSU Sports Network C Spire Tailgate Show goes live at 4 p.m. CT Neil Price, Matt Wyatt and Jay Perry will call the game on the network (check for affiliates here). Live audio is also available for FREE at HailState.com and via the TuneIn app.

Cowbells/Dawg Walk
Cowbells will not be permitted in Sanford Stadium. The Dawg Walk will take place at the northeast corner of Sanford Stadium at approximately 5 p.m. ET.

Social Media/Live Stats
Live updates from the game are available via MSU's official social media channels:Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (click the links). Fans can also follow behind-the-scenes content via SnapChat by searching for HailStateSnap. Live Stats are available here.

Weather
The forecast in Athens at kickoff calls for clear skies and a temperature of 80 degrees.

Series History
MSU and Georgia are meeting for the 24th time since the first contest in 1914. Georgia leads the series 17-6. Georgia captured the last meeting, 24-10, in Athens on Oct. 1, 2011 in Dan Mullen's third season. State is seeking its first victory in Athens since Oct. 6, 1956 when it won 19-7.

Quotable
"One of the great things about the SEC, unlike just about every other conference, is usually when you get a big-time win over a top 15 team, you load up and play a team ranked even higher the next week. We get to do that this week, going on the road to Georgia and playing a top team in the SEC East. We've got this tough challenge right now, going on the road playing in a tough environment against an excellent football team. It's a different environment. The environment, the crowd noise – all those things are a little bit different." – Dan Mullen

Mullen Watch
Head coach Dan Mullen, the Dodd Trophy National Coach of the Week, is just one win shy of tying College Football Hall of Famer Allyn McKeen for second in Bulldog all-time victories. Mullen is 64-42 overall and he's 14-5 against the SEC East. McKeen went 65-19-3 from 1939-48.

Fitzgerald Watch
Nick Fitzgerald, the Maxwell Award National Player of the Week, leads the SEC in touchdowns responsible (12) and he is third nationally in points responsible. Fitzgerald has rushed for at least one touchdown in six straight games dating back to last season's Arkansas game. That streak is one game shy of the school record held by James Johnson who did it in seven straight in 1997. Fitzgerald is averaging 261.0 yards per game of total offense. He's thrown seven touchdowns to only one interception. Fitzgerald returns to his home state this weekend.

All Aboard the "A-Train"
West Point native Aeris Williams ranks second in the SEC in rushing, averaging 112.0 yard per game. Williams is the first Bulldog running back with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games since Josh Robinson did it against LSU and Texas A&M during the historic 2014 season.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Gameday: Battle of Top 20 Bulldogs Set Between The Hedges Saturday Night on ESPN

Players Mentioned

Nick Fitzgerald

Aeris Williams

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