First-And-10 To Know: State vs. UMass

STARKVILLE – It's a homecoming Saturday on deck in StarkVegas.

Mississippi State closes out a three-game homestand by welcoming UMass to Davis Wade Stadium for a 3:15 p.m. contest. The Bulldogs will be looking to get November off to a winning start as the final third of the regular season schedule begins.

That much you probably know. But there are a few things you might not.

So, let's have a look at 10 items to be aware of headed into State's showdown against the Minutemen:

Saturday marks only the third all-time meeting between MSU and UMass. The Bulldogs have topped the Minutemen in both of the previous matchups. State defeated UMass 47-35 in Foxborough, Massachusetts back in 2016, then followed that up with a 34-23 victory in Starkville a year later.
State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. enters play against UMass as one of the brightest young stars in all of Southeastern Conference football. The Bulldog true freshman led all SEC signal callers in touchdown passes during the month of October, tossing for eight scores in the month.
Speaking of those eight October touchdown passes for Van Buren, that put the youngster at 11th nationally for the month. Also, his 285.7 passing yards per game in October was tied for 17th in the country.
Bulldog receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. continues to be one Van Buren's go-to weapons. Coleman heads into action on Saturday having caught a pass in 25 straight games in his career. It's the 24th longest active streak in the FBS.
Coleman has caught eight or more passes in three straight games and has hauled in at least five passes in seven of MSU's eight games this season. Overall, Coleman's 52 total receptions in 2024 rank second in the SEC and are tied for 12th in the nation.
Another big piece of the MSU offense, running back Davon Booth, appears to be getting stronger as the season progresses. Booth has combined for 172 rushing yards and 85 receiving yards over the last two games. He was incredibly strong last week against Arkansas, ripping of run of over 35 yards for a second-straight game, as well as notching a 54-yard touchdown reception. It was Booth's third consecutive contest with a receiving score.
On the defensive side of the football for State, safety Isaac Smith continues to be the unquestioned leader of the group. His 74 tackles this season are the second most in the SEC and is tied for 13th in the FBS. Smith is still the only SEC player averaging double-digit tackles this season at 10.6 per game.
Speaking of defense, that's a strength of the Minutemen. The UMass defense is holding opponents to 157.5 passing yards per game, which ranks sixth in the FBS. Overall, UMass averages allowing 328 yards per game, putting the Minutemen at 36th in the FBS in terms of total defense.
The UMass offense is spearheaded by quarterback Taisun Phommachanh. The dual-threat athlete has passed for 1,541 yards and eight touchdowns this season while rushing for 282 yards and three scores.
Following this week's game, Mississippi State gets set for a road test at currently No. 7-ranked Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 9. As things stand, it'd be MSU's fourth game against a Top-15 opponent this season. In fact, all of State's final three opponents are currently ranked inside the Top 25. It's no surprise, as the Bulldogs have the nation's third-toughest schedule per ESPN's FPI, and MSU's remaining strength of schedule headed into the UMass game is ranked ninth nationally.

Mississippi State University Athletics

First-And-10 To Know: State vs. UMass

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Players Mentioned

Davon Booth

Kevin Coleman Jr.

Isaac Smith

Michael Van Buren Jr.

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