Gameday: Football Travels to Knoxville for First Time Since 2008

by Brandon Langlois, Associate Director/Communications

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the first time since 2008, Mississippi State football will take on Tennessee in Knoxville's Neyland Stadium. Saturday's contest will kick off at 11 a.m. CT/noon ET and be televised by SEC Network.

State is coming off an open week, the first of two open dates on the 2019 slate. For the fourth time in five seasons, the Bulldogs are 3-2 entering the sixth week of the season.

MSU and Tennessee meet for the first time since 2012, and it will be just the third time both face off in Knoxville since 1996. The Vols return the trip to Starkville in 2024. Tennessee leads the all-time series 28-16-1.

Viewing Information
The game will be televised live on SEC Network with Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Alyssa Lang (reporter) calling the action. Live streaming video is available via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com.

Listening Information
The MSU Sports Network C Spire Tailgate Show hosted by Bart Gregory, Matt Wyatt and Charlie Winfield goes live at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. ET. 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. Fans in Starkville can tune to 100.9 FM. Fans inside the stadium can listen via 92.5 FM.

Gates Open at Neyland Stadium
Gates will open at 10 a.m. ET Saturday. Visit HailState.com/Gameday for more info.

Cowbells
Cowbells will not be permitted in Neyland Stadium.

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). Live Stats are available HERE.

Series History
46th meeting all-time (First: 11/16/1907 - UT, 11-4 in Memphis, Tenn.; Last: 10/13/2012 - MSU, 41-31 in Starkville) … Series: UT leads, 28-16-1 (Starkville: Tied, 5-5; Knoxville: UT leads, 13-7; Neutral: UT leads, 10-4-1).

Storylines

The Bulldogs, ranked 19th at the time, won the last meeting, 41-31, in Starkville on Oct. 13, 2012. Highlighted by 291 yards and a pair of touchdown passes from QB Tyler Russell as well as 100-yards rushing and a rushing score by RB LaDarius Perkins, State totaled 449 yards of total offense en route to the victory.
MSU's win in 2012 was its first over the Vols since 1994 and snapped a six-game losing streak in the series.
State's last win in Knoxville was in 1986. Coach Rockey Felker's Bulldogs came from behind to stun the No. 8 Vols, 27-23 in a mid-September matchup. State's victory was engineered by QB Don Smith, who capped an impressive passing day by running 62 yards to put the Bulldogs ahead, 27-23, with 4:40 remaining. Smith finished with 105 yards rushing. He completed 15 of 30 passes for 231 yards with touchdown throws of 43 yards to Fred Hadley and 12 and 5 yards to Louis Clark.
Junior RB Kylin Hill is one of the most electrifying players in all of college football. Hill enters the October slate as the SEC's leading rusher and among the top 10 in rushing yards per game in the nation. He is seeking to become MSU's third straight 1,000-yard rusher in a season. Hill needs 404 yards to accomplish that feat.
Behind four 100-yard rushing efforts in State's first five games, RB Kylin Hill enters Saturday's game with 596 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He is averaging 119.2 rushing yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry. Hill also is averaging 133.2 yards from scrimmage per game. In addition, his 32 runs for a first down and 21 runs of 10+ yards each lead the SEC.
The SEC's Freshman of the Week in Week 4 vs. Kentucky, true freshman QB Garrett Shrader has been solid both throwing and running over the first five games. Shrader is the only SEC quarterback with 300+ rushing yards and 500+ passing yards this season. In addition, he is one of only nine FBS quarterbacks (only SEC QB) with 300+ rushing yards, 500+ passing yards, multiple rushing touchdowns and multiple passing touchdowns.
Junior WR Osirus Mitchell leads the Bulldogs in touchdown catches this season with four (all have been for 20 yards or longer).
DC Bob Shoop's defense has recorded a takeaway in 21 straight games, which is the longest active streak in the nation. The streak began at Arkansas on Nov. 18, 2017. State has totaled 41 takeaways during the streak.

Tickets
Tickets for the 2019 season can be purchased at HailState.com/Tickets, by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS or in person at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office on the first floor of the Bryan Athletic Administration Building (288 Lakeview Drive), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."

Gameday: Football Travels to Knoxville for First Time Since 2008

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kylin Hill

Osirus Mitchell

Garrett Shrader

Mississippi State University Athletics

Gameday: Football Travels to Knoxville for First Time Since 2008

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kylin Hill

Osirus Mitchell

Garrett Shrader

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