Postgame Notes: Mississippi State 38, Northern Illinois 10
September 20, 2025 | Football
2025 Mississippi State Football Postgame Notes
Starkville, Miss. // Davis Wade Stadium
Mississippi State 38, Northern Illinois 10
General Notes
- Mississippi State and Northern Illinois met for the first time.
- Uniform Combo: The Bulldogs wore their Maroon, Maroon, Gray uniform combo against Northern Illinois. The Maroon helmets featured the white Script State logo … This was the fourth unique uniform combo for MSU in as many games this season … This was the first time State wore the maroon/maroon/gray combo since playing Toledo in 2024.
- Attendance: 45,803
- Mississippi State has scored in 60 consecutive games dating back to October 21, 2020.
- Mississippi State has started 4-0 for the first time since 2014 and just the 8th time in program history.
- The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 at Davis Wade Stadium in 2025.
Game Captains & Coin Toss
- Game Captains for State: #22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones (DL), #28 Tanner Johnson (S), #75 Jacoby Jackson (OL)
- Northern Illinois won the toss and elected to receive.
- Snapped a streak of 19 straight games receiving the opening kickoff.
- First time under Head Coach Jeff Lebby that Mississippi State started the game on defense.
- Mississippi State is now 7-9 on the coin toss under Jeff Lebby.
Offensive Team Notes
- Mississippi State has scored on its game opening drive four times in 2025 … Longest streak in the Jeff Lebby era.
- Mississippi State has outscored its opponents 55-6 in the first quarter this season and 86-23 in the first half.
- The Bulldogs 13 play drive in the first quarter was the team's longest drive that resulted in a touchdown this season.
- This is the first time since the 2022 season that Mississippi State has scored a touchdown on the opening possession of the first four games of the season.
- Mississippi State scored on the opening drive of the second half for the third time this season.
- State had 292 rushing yards, which is the first time since the 2018 season against Ole Miss and Arkansas that the Bulldogs have rushed for 250+ yards in back-to-back games.
- The Bulldogs' 292 rushing yards were the most since Southeast Louisiana in 2023.
- It was the first time since the Arkansas and Ole Miss games in 2016 that the Bulldogs have had 4+ rushing touchdowns in back-to-back games.
- This is the third time under Lebby that the Bulldogs have had 4+ rushing touchdowns.
Offensive Player Notes
Blake Shapen
- Has thrown a touchdown pass in 19 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak at the FBS level behind Iowa State's Rocco Becht (22 games).
- Extended his consecutive start streak to 29 games.
- Bothwell's 101 rushing yards is the first Bulldogs running back with over 100 rushing yards this season and the first since Davon Booth against Mizzou last season.
- Thompson had a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, which was his first career carry and rushing touchdown.
- Evans 57-yard reception was his team high seventh explosive play (4 receptions, 3 punt returns).
- Evans and Thompson each have 4 receptions of over 20+ yards on the year.
- Traore's receiving touchdown in the second quarter was his second of the season.
Davon Booth
- Booth had his third career multi-touchdown game and his first as a Bulldog.
- This was the third multi-touchdown game for a Bulldog running back this season, and the fourth for all Bulldogs.
- Gayten scored his second touchdown of the season, a career high total after scoring one as a freshman in 2024.
Defensive Team Notes
- This was the fourth straight game that Mississippi State has not allowed a first quarter touchdown to open a season, which is the first time since 2018.
- First time holding four straight opponents to 20-points or fewer in victory since 1999 when State opened the year holding its first seven opponents to under 20 points.
- Mississippi State has allowed its fewest points through four games since 1999 (47).
- First time since 2021 that the Bulldogs have opened a season with an interception in each of their first four games.
- In 2021, State had an interception in each of its first five games.
- Mississippi State forced two interceptions in the win, marking the second multi-interception game of the season (also had two vs. Arizona State).
- Second straight game the Bulldogs have forced a fumble.
Defensive Player Notes
- Recorded his first career interception in the third quarter.
DeAgo Brumfield
- Recorded his first-ever Quarterback hurry.
- Second straight game forcing a fumble.
Special Teams Notes
- Mississippi State's Nevaeh Sanders blocked a punt in the second quarter ... It was the first blocked punt for State in 2025 and the first since Zakari Tillman blocked a punt at #1 Texas on Sept. 28, 2024.
- Ferrie was 5-5 in PATs, extending his streak to 47 straight makes.
- He is 84-for-85 in PATs in his career.
- Ferrie's 48-yard field goal in the third quarter was his 30th career make, tying him with Scott Westerfield for 7th all-time in made FGs in a career.
Explosive Plays (6)
(plays of 20+ yards)
Blake Shapen
- 24-yard run, first quarter
- 22-yard scramble, third quarter
- 45-yard reception from Shapen, third quarter
- 22-yard run, third quarter
Anthony Evans III
- 57-yard reception from Shapen, fourth quarter
- 22-yard run, fourth quarter
Career Highs
Blake Shapen
- Rushing yards – 51
- Rushing touchdowns – 2
- Longest reception – 57 yards
Players Mentioned
DL
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RB
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RB
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WR
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K
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RB
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OL
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S
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WR
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LB
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S
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LB
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WR
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LB
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TE
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CB
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