Postgame Notes: Mississippi State 34, No. 15 Tennessee 41

2025 Mississippi State Football Postgame Notes
Starkville, Miss. // Davis Wade Stadium  
Mississippi State 34, #15 Tennessee 41 (Overtime)

General Notes

Mississippi State and Tennessee met for the 48th time, and the 11th time in Starkville. This was the first meeting in Starkville since 2012.
Tennessee now leads the all-time series, 31-16-1.
When the game is played in Starkville, Tennessee now leads, 6-5.
Uniform Combo: Mississippi State wore all white with the Maroon Interlocking logo on the helmet. The uniform is a tribute to the 2000 "Snow Bowl" team.
This is the first time since 2023 that State has worn the Interlocking logo when they wore them against Kentucky.
It's just the 8th time ever wearing the Interlocking logo on a white helmet, and the first time since 2002
Attendance: 60,417
The game was officially called a sellout
This was the largest attendance at Davis Wade Stadium since Nov. 12, 2022, when State hosted #1 Georgia.
This was the 19th largest crowd in Davis Wade Stadium history
Mississippi State has scored in 61 consecutive games dating back to October 21, 2020.
The Bulldogs fell to 3-1 at Davis Wade Stadium in 2025.
This was the first time Mississippi State has gone to overtime since their game against Arizona on Sept. 9, 2023.
Mississippi State won the coin toss in overtime and elected to defend first.
This was Mississippi State's first overtime game since Sept. 9, 2023, when the Bulldogs defeated Arizona 31-24.

Game Captains & Coin Toss

Game Captains for State: #6 Davon Booth (RB), #40 Nic Mitchell (LB), #76 Albert Reese IV (OL)
Mississippi State won the toss and elected to receive.
Mississippi State has received the opening kickoff in 21 of the last 22 games and 17 of 18 games under Coach Lebby.
Mississippi State is 8-9 on the coin toss under Jeff Lebby.

Offensive Team Notes

Mississippi State has outscored its opponents 62-16 in the first quarter this season and 103-40 in the first half.
Mississippi State has already had two 100-yard rushing games this season, tying the total in 2023 and 2024.
The 198 rushing yards ties Georgia's total this season as the most rushing yards against Tennessee.
The Bulldogs have run for at least 180 yards in four of their five games this season.
MSU's 57 rushing attempts were tied for seventh most since 1995.

Offensive Player Notes
Blake Shapen

Has thrown a touchdown pass in 20 consecutive games. After Iowa State's Rocco Becht failed to throw a touchdown pass against Arizona on Sept. 27, Shapen's streak is the longest in college football.
Extended his consecutive start streak to 30 games.

Fluff Bothwell

Bothwell made his first career start.
Bothwell ran for 134 yards, the second game in a row that he has ran for 100+ yards.
This was the second highest total of his career (143 yards at USA)
Bothwell had two rushing touchdowns, bringing his team-high season total to six.
This was his third multi-touchdown game this season, and the eighth time in his career.
Became the 15th MSU player since 1995 to have three multi-touchdown games on the ground in the same season.

Davon Booth

Booth's 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter was his third touchdown in the last two games.

Seydou Traore

Scored a 2-yard touchdown, which gives him touchdown receptions in back-to-back games.

Jordan Mosley

Mosley had three receptions, which is his most in a single game this season.

Anthony Evans III

With Evans' five receptions, he now has had at least four receptions in every game this season.

Defensive Team Notes

Mississippi State only allowed Tennessee three offensive points in the first quarter which is the lowest UT has scored all season in the first quarter.
Tennessee averages 20.8 points in the first quarter.
This was the fifth straight game that the Bulldogs have not allowed a first quarter offensive touchdown to open a season, which is the first time since 2018.
State has recorded a sack in five straight games to start the season.
In 2023, State recorded a sack in seven straight games to open the season.
Mississippi State has allowed its fewest offensive points through four games since 2018 (74).
First time since 2021, that MSU has opened a season with an interception in each of their first five games.
In 2021, State had an interception in each of its first five games.
The Bulldogs picked up their third muti-turnover game of the season.

Defensive Player Notes
Tyler Lockhart

Recorded his first QB hurry (2).

Jahron Manning

Earned his first interception as a Bulldog.

Zakari Tillman

Registered his first sack of the season.
Secured his first interception of the season in the fourth quarter.
Led the team in tackles for loss (2).

Brylan Lanier

Collected the first pass breakup of his career.

Branden Jennings

Led the team in tackles with 10 and was the first State player of the year to record double digit tackles.

Special Teams Notes
Kyle Ferrie

Ferrie was 4-4 in PATs, extending his streak to 51 straight makes.
He is 84-for-89 in PATs in his career.
Ferrie's 51-yard field goal in the second quarter was his second made field goal over 50 yards.
Both of his field goals of 50+ yards have come this season with his 55-yard record setting kick against Southern Miss.
Ferrie went 2-3 on FG's with makes of 51 and 38. His lone miss came at 42 yards.
Those two field goals were Ferrie's 31st and 32nd made FGs and now is tied for 5th place all time with Jace Christmann and Derek DePasquale.
Ferrie's 10 points this game moves him into 10th place all-time in Mississippi State history passing Westin Graves and moves within two points of eighth place.

Ethan Pulliam

Had a career-long 67-yard punt that was downed at the 1-yard line.
His first punt of the day resulted in a muffed punt with the Bulldogs recovering.
Had two punts go for over 50 yards, and three that landed inside the 20-yard line.

Explosive Plays (3)
(plays of 20+ yards)
Fluff Bothwell

20-yard run, second quarter

Ayden Williams

49-yard reception from Shapen, fourth quarter

Anthony Evans III

21-yard reception from Shapen, fourth quarter

Career Highs
Ethan Pulliam

Longest Punt – 67 yards

Ayden Williams

Longest Reception – 49 yards
Receiving Yards – 49 yards

Fluff Bothwell

Rushing Attempts – 23 attempts

Jahron Manning

Pass Break-ups – 3

Jaray Bledsoe

Tackles for loss – 1

Branden Jennings

Tackles – 10
Pass Breakups – 1

Tyler Lockhart

Quarterback Hurries – 2
Tackles – 10

Zakari Tillman

Interceptions – 1
Tackles for loss – 2

Tony Mitchell

Tackles – 3

Jayven Williams

Tackles – 3

Kedrick Bingley-Jones

Tackles – 3

Brylan Jennings

Pass Breakups – 1

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: Mississippi State 34, No. 15 Tennessee 41

Players Mentioned

Kedrick Bingley-Jones

Jaray Bledsoe

Davon Booth

Fluff Bothwell

Anthony Evans III

Kyle Ferrie

Branden Jennings

Brylan Lanier

Tyler Lockhart

Jahron Manning

Nic Mitchell

Tony Mitchell

Jordan Mosley

Ethan Pulliam

Albert Reese IV

Blake Shapen

Zakari Tillman

Seydou Traore

Ayden Williams

Jayven Williams

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