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

STARKVILLE – Fresh off an open week, Mississippi State is all set to return to action.

MSU (4-2 overall, 0-2 in Southeastern Conference play) faces Florida (2-4, 1-2) at 3:15 p.m. CT on Saturday in Gainesville. The game will be televised by SEC Network.

Ahead of the contest, let's have a look at 10 items to be aware of as State gets ready to square off against the Gators:

Just how long has it been since Mississippi State made the trek to Gainesville? Well, the last time it happened, Barack Obama was in his first term as president of the United States, the iPhone 4 had only been out for a few months and Dak Prescott was in his senior season of high school down in Haughton, Louisiana. MSU's last road game at Florida came all the way back in October of 2010 with the Bulldogs earning a 10-7 victory.
Saturday is the 57th all-time meeting between the Dawgs and Gators. Though the two teams haven't seen each other with regularity over the last three decades or so, it's been a back-and-forth series over that time span. State has won four of its last 10 games against Florida.
MSU quarterback Blake Shapen enters the weekend looking to continue an incredibly impressive ongoing streak. The signal caller has thrown a touchdown pass in 21 straight games in which he's played. That's the longest active streak in the country.
Shapen has been the leader of a Bulldog offense that has been one of the nation's most explosive groups this season. State enters play this weekend ranking second in the SEC in offensive plays of 40 or more yards and 50 or more yards. The Dawgs are also inside the top 20 in the country in both categories.
On the defensive side, MSU has continued to show it is a much-improved unit from a season ago. The Bulldogs have already eclipsed last year's interception total, and State's 11 total turnovers are only one behind the team's entire 2024 total. MSU hasn't surrendered a touchdown in the first quarter all year, and perhaps most impressively, the team is allowing 131.3 yards per game less so far this season through six games than at the same point last year.
The Dawgs have also been receiving great special teams play. Punter Ethan Pulliam is averaging 46.6 yards per punt this season. His average would rank 12th nationally if he had enough punts to qualify. Meanwhile placekicker Kyle Ferrie has made seven of his eight field goal tries this season, including his program-record 55-yarder in the season opener. He's also connected on all of his 23 extra point attempts this year as he's climbed up to eighth place in school history in career points.
There are multiple ties between the staffs of the Bulldogs and Gators. State assistant coaches Coleman Hutzler, Matt Barnes, Corey Bell and David Turner have all had stints on the Florida coaching staff. Meanwhile Florida receivers coach Billy Gonzales spent five seasons at Mississippi State from 2013 through 2017.
There'll also be a reunion of sorts on the players' side of things. MSU defensive lineman Ray Thomas, linebacker Nevaeh Sanders and receiver Cam Thompson were all teammates with Florida EDGE George Gumbs Jr. at Northern Illinois before the four players found their way to their current schools.
An MSU win on Saturday wouldn't only boost the Bulldogs' postseason chances by getting the Dawgs one victory away from bowl eligibility. It'd also spoil a special day in Gainesville. Saturday's contest is Florida's Homecoming game. The Gators have won six straight Homecoming games and 30 of their last 35.
Speaking of homecoming, MSU will host its own after facing Florida. The Bulldogs' Homecoming game will be on Saturday, Oct. 25 against Texas. It'll be a homecoming in more ways than one as it'll be State's first game at Davis Wade Stadium in nearly a full month. The contest also continues MSU's gauntlet of a 2025 schedule. Four of State's final five opponents are currently ranked 21st or higher in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. Two are currently ranked inside the top 10.

Mississippi State University Athletics

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

Players Mentioned

Kyle Ferrie

Ethan Pulliam

Nevaeh Sanders

Blake Shapen

Ray Thomas

Cam Thompson

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