First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Eastern Kentucky

STARKVILLE – It's showtime in Stark Vegas.

The head coach Jeff Lebby era begins on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT when Mississippi State hosts Eastern Kentucky at Davis Wade Stadium. That much you know. However, there are several things you might not.

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

Saturday begins the 125th season of Mississippi State football. The program played its first two seasons in 1895 and 1896. Then, after a four-year period without a team, MSU football returned in 1901 and has been played every year since except for 1943 when a squad wasn't fielded because of World War II.
Several streaks are on the line for MSU in Saturday's game. The Bulldogs have currently won their last nine games against nonconference foes. The streak started on Sept. 3, 2022, with a home win over Memphis and also includes the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl triumph over Illinois.
Additionally, State has won 18 consecutive games against FCS opponents dating back to 2005. During this stretch of time, State held 10 of those foes to under 10 points.
The Bulldogs are also riding a strong streak in season openers. MSU has won its last seven lid-lifters dating back to the 2017 campaign. State has also claimed victory in each of its last three home openers.
It's not just a new head coach for MSU in 2024. There are many new faces on the Bulldog roster. Between the transfer portal and junior college ranks, 28 transfers joined the squad over the offseason. Of those 28 guys, 20 came from the transfer portal and nine of those 20 were from Power Four schools. In all, State has 53 total newcomers on its roster – the 16th most in the FBS and the most in the SEC.
Many of the new Bulldogs are on the offensive line, but it's a unit that is far from new to college football. Collectively, State's offensive linemen have played in 228 career games. That's the eighth-most games played nationally and the second-most in the SEC.
Quarterback Blake Shapen also stands as a veteran presence. The Baylor transfer has already thrown for 5,574 yards and 36 touchdowns in his career while completing 64 percent of his passes. Shapen begins his Bulldog career having thrown a touchdown pass in 11 straight games. He's also thrown for 200 or more yards in seven of his last eight starts.
State boasts a lot of size in its secondary this season. Eight guys stand at 6-foot-1 or taller among MSU's safety and cornerback spots. Corner Kelley Jones is the tallest of the bunch, measuring in at 6-foot-4.
Saturday's game is the very first time in history that Eastern Kentucky and Mississippi State have met on the football field. Against SEC foes, EKU is 0-8 since 1978, most recently falling to Kentucky 28-17 last year.
If Lebby is able to lead the Bulldogs to victory over EKU on Saturday, he would become the latest in a long line of State head coaches that have gotten their Bulldog careers off on winning notes. State's last seven head coaches prior to Lebby all won their MSU debuts.

Mississippi State University Athletics

First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Eastern Kentucky

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