Postgame Notes: Mississippi State 21, Florida 23
October 18, 2025 | Football
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)
- Rushing Attempts – 6
- Rushing Attempts – 5
- Receptions - 11
- Pass Break ups — 2
- Tackles — 4
- Pass Breakups — 1
- Interceptions — 2
- Sacks — 1
- Tackles for loss — 1
- Sacks — 1
- Tackles for loss — 1
- Pass Breakups — 1
- Tackles for loss — 1
Players Mentioned
DL
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RB
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WR
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K
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RB
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CB
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LB
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CB
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S
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P
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S
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TE
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DL
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