Postgame Notes: Mississippi State 21, Florida 23

2025 Mississippi State Football Postgame Notes
Gainesville, Fla. // Ben Hill Griffin Stadium  
Mississippi State 21, Florida 23

General Notes

Mississippi State and Florida met for the 57th time.
Florida now leads the all-time series, 36-19-2.
When the game is played in Gainesville, Florida leads, 20-8-1.
Uniform Combo: Mississippi State wore all white for the second time this season. The helmet had the Maroon Interlocking MSU logo.
This is the first time wearing a uniform set for the second time this season. State previously wore this combo against Tennessee.
Attendance: 90,203
Mississippi State has scored in 63 consecutive games dating back to October 21, 2020.

Game Captains & Coin Toss

Game Captains for State: #2 Blake Shapen (QB), #23 Trevion Williams (DL), #40 Nic Mitchell (LB), #44 Branden Jennings (LB)
Mississippi State won the toss and elected to receive.
Mississippi State has received the opening kickoff in 23 of the last 24 games and 19 of 20 games under Coach Lebby.
Mississippi State is 9-10 on the coin toss under Jeff Lebby.

Offensive Team Notes

Mississippi State has outscored its opponents 72-19 in the first quarter this season and 113-60 in the first half.
Fifth game in a row, and sixth time this season, the Bulldogs have run for 100+ rushing yards as a team.
With Evans and Thompson both having 100 receiving yards, it becomes the second time this season that the receiving duo has both had over 100 yards.
Since 1995, MSU has only had two receivers to go over 100 yards in the same game nine times.
9th time since 1995 that MSU has had a single player rush for 2+ TDs in the same game in five or more games.

Offensive Player Notes
Blake Shapen

Extended his consecutive start streak to 32 games.
Has completed a pass of 40+ yards in every game this season.
Shapen threw for 300+ passing yards for the first time this season and the second time as a Bulldog.
Seventh time throwing over 300 yards in his career.
It is the first time a MSU QB has thrown for 300+ yards since Michael Van Buren against Arkansas in 2024.

Anthony Evans III

With Evans' 11 receptions, he now has had at least four receptions in every game this season.
Now he has 50 receptions in his career.
Had his third reception of 40+ yards.
Evans had 107 receiving yards, which is the second time in his career going over 100 yards, both of which have come this season.
Moves past the 500-career receiving yard mark.

Brenen Thompson

Thompson had 155 receiving yards, going over 100 yards for the second time in his career, both coming this season.
The first 100-yard game since Thompson and Evans III both had over 100 against Arizona State.
It was the first time since Tulu Griffin in 2023 against South Carolina that a Bulldog receiver had more than 150 receiving yards in a game.
Caught his 50th career reception and crossed the 1,000-career receiving yard mark.
With two receptions over 40 yards in this game, Thompson now has seven on the year.

Kamario Taylor

Scored his first career rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

Davon Booth

Booth scored two touchdowns, marking the second time this season and the fourth time of his career.
Marks the fifth time this season that a MSU running back scored two or more touchdowns in a single game.
Booth rushed for 105 yards, which was the first time this season and the sixth time in his career.
The third time this season, a Mississippi State running back rushed for over 100 yards.

Defensive Team Notes

Mississippi State has not allowed a touchdown on the opening drive of all seven games this season.
This is the first time since 2016.
Seventh straight game that the Bulldogs have not allowed a first quarter offensive touchdown.
MSU recorded an interception in each of its first seven games.
In 2011, State had an interception in each of its first seven games.
The Bulldogs secured their fourth multi-turnover game of the season.
Brylan Lanier is the first player to record two interceptions in a game since September 9th, 2023 versus Arizona.
State recorded their tenth interception of the year.
MSU entered Saturday tied for the most in the SEC.
Mississippi State has recorded a sack in seven straight games.
The Bulldogs had five pass breakups which is tied for the most this season in an SEC game.

Defensive Player Notes
Brylan Lanier

Since 2005, he is the second Bulldog to have a sack and two interceptions in the same game (Jett Johnson vs Arizona, September 9, 2023).
Led the team in tackles with eight.
Racked up two interceptions in a game for the first time in his career.
Recorded his first sack at State.

Isaac Smith

Tallied his first career sack in the 3rd quarter.

Special Teams Notes

Shapen punted from the shotgun for the first time in his career. The punt landed on the UF 8-yard line.
Had three different players punt the ball in the same game.
Just the second time since at least 1995 and the first since 2002 against South Carolina.

Kyle Ferrie

Ferrie was 3-3 in PATs, extending his streak to 54 straight makes.
He is 91-for-92 in PATs in his career.
Ferrie is now 3rd in made PATs in MSU history.
Ferrie went 0-1 on FGs with a missed attempt of 41 yards.

Ethan Pulliam

Four straight games with a punt of 50+ yards.

Explosive Plays (5)
(plays of 20+ yards)

Anthony Evans III
48-yard reception from Blake Shapen, first quarter
20-yard reception from Blake Shapen, fourth quarter
Brenen Thompson
47-yard reception from Blake Shapen, second quarter
46-yard reception from Blake Shapen, fourth quarter
Seydou Traore
29-yard reception from Blake Shapen, fourth quarter

Career Highs
Brenen Thompson

Receiving Yards – 155
Receptions – 7 (Tied)

Xavier Gayten

Rushing Attempts – 6

Kamario Taylor

Rushing Attempts – 5

Anthony Evans III

Receptions - 11

Kelley Jones

Pass Break ups — 2

Jett Jefferson

Tackles — 4

Brylan Lanier

Pass Breakups — 1
Interceptions — 2
Sacks — 1
Tackles for loss — 1

Isaac Smith

Sacks — 1
Tackles for loss — 1

Hunter Washington

Pass Breakups — 1

Jaray Bledsoe

Tackles for loss — 1

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: Mississippi State 21, Florida 23

Players Mentioned

Jaray Bledsoe

Davon Booth

Anthony Evans III

Kyle Ferrie

Xavier Gayten

Jett Jefferson

Branden Jennings

Kelley Jones

Brylan Lanier

Nic Mitchell

Ethan Pulliam

Blake Shapen

Isaac Smith

Kamario Taylor

Brenen Thompson

Seydou Traore

Hunter Washington

Trevion Williams

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