First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Southeastern Louisiana

STARKVILLE – At 3 p.m. on Saturday, Mississippi State kicks off the 2023 season at Davis Wade Stadium against Southeastern Louisiana. That much you know. However, there are several things you might not.
So, let's have a look at 10 things to be aware of headed into the Bulldogs' season opener against the Lions:

This isn't the first time State and Southeastern have squared off. It'll actually be the second such occasion as the two schools met in Starkville 15 years ago. Back on Sept. 6, 2008, the Bulldogs topped the Lions 34-10 in what was MSU's home opener. State quarterback Wesley Carroll threw a couple of touchdown passes and Anthony Dixon rushed for a pair of scores that day to guide the Dawgs to victory. Adam Carlson booted a pair of field goals in the game for State.
MSU is looking to continue its recent trend of season-opener success. A Saturday win would mark State's seventh-straight triumph in season lid-lifters. The Dawgs have already won six such games in a row and have claimed victory in the first contest of the year in 12 of the last 14 seasons.
As a frequent target in former head coach Mike Leach's Air Raid offense the last three years, running back Jo'Quavious Marks comes into Saturday's action nearing Mississippi State history. The man better known as Woody needs only nine more receptions to have the most career catches at MSU ever, surpassing current record-holder Fred Ross. With only 11 more catches, Marks would enter the top 10 in career catches in Southeastern Conference history.
Marks is also knocking at the door for spots on a few Mississippi State top-10 lists as this season begins. With 727 more yards, Marks would enter the school's top 10 for career all-purpose yardage. Additionally, he needs just three more rushing touchdowns to have 21, at which point he'd tie Don Smith for 10^th all-time in career scores on the ground.
Speaking of record watching, keep your eyes locked on quarterback Will Rogers as the 2023 campaign begins. The senior signal caller has already rewritten the State record book in his career and now has his sights set on doing the same to SEC bests. This bears following over the course of the season, but Rogers enters the year with a very realistic chance of becoming the SEC's all-time leader in career passing yardage. Rogers needs 2,478 passing yards this season to get there. If Rogers can throw 40 touchdown passes, he'd also become the conference's all-time leader in scoring tosses. Rogers needs only six touchdown passes to put himself inside the top five in league history.
Oh, but Rogers isn't done with the MSU record book either. He enters play Saturday only 32 scores shy of passing Dak Prescott for the most touchdowns responsible for in a Bulldog career. Rogers has already accounted for 83 TDs in his career, trailing only Prescott and Nick Fitzgerald. Rogers can also break Prescott's school record for career total offense if he can pile up 1,512 more yards.
Southeastern Louisiana might be an FCS opponent, but the Lions bring a strong resume with them to Starkville. Last season, they put together a nine-win campaign and captured the Southland Conference championship. The Lions then went and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs for the third time in four years. This year, the Lions have been picked by league coaches and media relations directors as the favorite to win the Southland Conference again.
It's no surprise those in the know in the Southland Conference are high on Southeastern Louisiana. The team features an SLC-high 17 preseason All-Southland Conference performers. In what has to be considered a rarity, the Lions actually took both quarterback spots on the All-SLC squad with junior Zachary Clement earning the first-team nod and Eli Sawyer getting second-team honors. Three of Southeastern Louisiana's offensive linemen – John Allen, Jhy Orgeron and Jalen Bell – joined Clement on the All-SLC First Team. Other Lions first-teamers were defensive end Arien Williams, junior linebacker Donte' Daniels, punter Austin Dunlap and punt returner Darius Lewis.
Saturday will of course be Kevin Barbay's first game as Mississippi State's offensive coordinator, however it won't be his first time calling the plays for an offense in a game that counts at Davis Wade Stadium. Did you know, Barbay was the OC for Stephen F. Austin in 2018 and faced MSU in Starkville for that year's season opener? Now, five years later, he's back. Only this time, he's in Maroon and White and hoping to bring his offensive wizardry to the Bulldogs' side. Barbay came to MSU from App State, where last year, his prolific offense ranked inside the top 25 nationally in scoring offense, passer rating, yards per pass attempt, yards per play, rushing offense and yards per rush.
Finally, Saturday's game is the first of eight home games for Mississippi State this season. So, if you can't be in Davis Wade Stadium for this weekend's affair, plenty of other opportunities await. This will be the most home games in a single season for MSU in program history.

Mississippi State University Athletics

First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Southeastern Louisiana

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