Notes To Know vs. LSU

Mississippi State opens up the Southeastern Conference portion of its schedule by hosting LSU on Saturday.

Here are a few notes to know before the Bulldogs take on the Tigers at 11 a.m. on ESPN.

Quarterback Will Rogers is coming off a 50-completion performance last week, which set a new SEC single-game record. Rogers ranks atop the SEC in completion percentage (74.8), completions per game (40.7), passing yards (1,083) and passing yards per game (361).
Saturday will be the 15^th time MSU and LSU have opened the SEC season against one another. The Tigers hold a 9-5 lead on such occasions.
The Bulldogs are 30-55-2 all-time in conference opening games.
In 13 games under defensive coordinator Zach Arnett, Mississippi State has held its opponent to under 100 yards rushing six times including the last two outings.
Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes ranks as the SEC's active career leader in interceptions with six. Forbes also tops the FBS among active players with three career pick-6's.
Lideatrick Griffin leads the league in kickoff return yardage (244), kickoff return average (48.8) and kickoffs returned for touchdowns (one).
Wide receiver Makai Polk is the league leader in catches (25) and receptions per game (8.3).
MSU is tied for second in the SEC with six forced turnovers this season. The Bulldogs have had at least one takeaway in five consecutive games and have forced a dozen turnovers during that span (nine interceptions, three fumble recoveries).
Mississippi State has faced LSU and Ole Miss more than any other opponent (114 times). The Bulldogs' history with the Tigers dates back to 1896 with LSU leading the all-time series 75-36-3. The Tigers also have a 16-7-1 series lead in games played in Starkville.
MSU opened last season with a 44-34 win at LSU, who entered the contest ranked No. 6 as the defending national champions. It snapped the Tigers' 16-game winning streak and marked the first time the defending national champion had lost the season opener in 22 years.
Former Mississippi State quarterback K.J. Costello set a new SEC single-game record with 623 passing yards in last year's victory at LSU.
MSU director of football recruiting communications Rod Gibson scored the game-winning touchdown to beat the Tigers in 1999.
Redshirt junior offensive lineman Cole Smith played in two games for LSU as a true freshman in 2018 before transferring to the Bulldogs the following year. Smith is the son of former MSU and NFL offensive lineman Brent Smith.
The Tigers have won nine of their last 10 games at MSU dating back to 2001.
LSU's Ed Orgeron holds a 3-4 record vs. the Bulldogs as a head coach (2-2 at LSU, 1-2 at Ole Miss).
The Tigers' defense leads the country with 19 sacks.
LSU sophomore quarterback Max Johnson is the son of former NFL QB Brad Johnson, who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson currently tops the SEC with 11 touchdown passes has thrown at least three touchdowns in his last five starts dating back to last season.
LSU kicker Cade York has made his last 12 field goal attempts.
The Tigers are 53-30-5 all-time in SEC openers and have won 11 of their last 14 league openers.
Saturday's 11 a.m. game is just the 34^th morning kickoff LSU has had since 1977.
The Tigers have scored on all nine of their trips inside the red zone this year (seven TDs, two FGs).
LSU has committed the fewest penalties (10) in the SEC and rank fifth nationally in that category.

Mississippi State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

K.J. Costello

Emmanuel Forbes

Lideatrick Griffin

Makai Polk

Will Rogers

Cole Smith

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