September 20, 2025 | Football
2025 Mississippi State Football Postgameย Notesย
Starkville, Miss. // Davis Wade Stadiumโฏโฏย
Mississippi State 38, Northern Illinois 10ย
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General Notesย ย ย
- Mississippi State and Northern Illinois met for the first time.ย
- Uniform Combo: The Bulldogs wore their Maroon, Maroon, Gray uniform combo against Northern Illinois. The Maroon helmets featured the white Script State logo โฆ This was the fourth unique uniform combo for MSU in as many games this season โฆ This was the first time State wore the maroon/maroon/gray combo since playing Toledo in 2024.ย
- Attendance: 45,803ย
- Mississippi State has scored in 60 consecutive games dating back to October 21, 2020.ย ย ย
- Mississippi State has started 4-0 for the first time since 2014 and just the 8th time in program history.ย
- The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 at Davis Wade Stadium in 2025.ย
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Game Captains & Coin Tossย ย ย
- Game Captains for State: #22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones (DL), #28 Tanner Johnson (S), #75 Jacoby Jackson (OL)ย
- Northern Illinois won the toss and elected to receive.ย
- Snapped a streak of 19 straight games receiving the opening kickoff.ย
- First time under Head Coach Jeff Lebby that Mississippi State started the game on defense.ย
- Mississippi State is now 7-9 on the coin toss under Jeff Lebby.ย ย
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Offensive Team Notesย ย ย
- Mississippi State has scored on its game opening drive four times in 2025 โฆ Longest streak in the Jeff Lebby era.ย
- Mississippi State has outscored its opponents 55-6 in the first quarter this season and 86-23 in the first half.ย
- The Bulldogs 13 play drive in the first quarter was the team's longest drive that resulted in a touchdown this season.ย
- 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.ย
- Mississippi State scored on the opening drive of the second half for the third time this season.ย
- 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.ย
- The Bulldogs' 292 rushing yards were the most since Southeast Louisiana in 2023.ย
- 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.ย
- This is the third time under Lebby that the Bulldogs have had 4+ rushing touchdowns.ย
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Offensive Player Notesย ย
Blake Shapenย ย ย
- 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).ย
- Extended his consecutive start streak to 29 games.ย ย
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- 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.ย
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- Thompson had a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, which was his first career carry and rushing touchdown.ย
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- Evans 57-yard reception was his team high seventh explosive play (4 receptions, 3 punt returns).ย
- Evans and Thompson each have 4 receptions of over 20+ yards on the year.ย
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- Traore's receiving touchdown in the second quarter was his second of the season.ย
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Davon Boothย
- Booth had his third career multi-touchdown game and his first as a Bulldog.ย
- This was the third multi-touchdown game for a Bulldog running back this season, and the fourth for all Bulldogs.ย
- Gayten scored his second touchdown of the season, a career high total after scoring one as a freshman in 2024. ย
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Defensive Team Notesย ย
- 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.ย
- 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.ย
- Mississippi State has allowed its fewest points through four games since 1999 (47).ย
- First time since 2021 that the Bulldogs have opened a season with an interception in each of their first four games.ย
- In 2021, State had an interception in each of its first five games.ย
- Mississippi State forced two interceptions in the win, marking the second multi-interception game of the season (also had two vs. Arizona State).ย
- Second straight game the Bulldogs have forced a fumble.ย
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Defensive Player Notesย ย
- Recorded hisย first career interception in the third quarter.ย
DeAgo Brumfieldย
- Recorded his first-ever Quarterback hurry.ย
- ย Second straight game forcing a fumble. ย
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Special Teams Notesย ย ย
- 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.ย
Kyle Ferrieย ย ย ย
- Ferrie was 5-5 in PATs, extending his streak to 47 straight makes.ย ย ย ย
- He is 84-for-85 in PATs in his career.ย ย ย
- 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.ย
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Explosive Plays (6)ย ย
(plays of 20+ yards)ย ย
Blake Shapenย
- 24-yard run, first quarterย
- 22-yard scramble, third quarterย
- 45-yard reception from Shapen, third quarterย
- 22-yard run, third quarterย
Anthony Evans III
- 57-yard reception from Shapen, fourth quarterย
- 22-yard run, fourth quarterย
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Career Highsย ย
Blake Shapenย
- Rushing yards โ 51ย
- Rushing touchdowns โ 2 ย
- Longest reception โ 57 yardsย
- Interceptions โ 1ย
DeAgo Brumfieldย
- QB Hurries โ 1ย
- Tackles for loss โ 1ย
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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