First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Arizona State

STARKVILLE – For the first time in 2025, Mississippi State hits the home field on Saturday night and what a way to start the home slate.

MSU hosts No. 12 Arizona State at 6:30 p.m. CT in what's got to be considered one of the biggest home games in recent memory for the Bulldogs. For a program that's started to gain momentum, it's an opportunity to gather even more.

Ahead of the contest, let's have a look at 10 items to be aware of headed into State's showdown against the Sun Devils:

Mississippi State is looking to avenge last season's 30-23 loss out in Tempe. In what was the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Sun Devils, MSU mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback with quarterback Blake Shapen throwing a pair of touchdown passes in the final period before State ultimately came up just short.
Speaking of Shapen, MSU's signal caller started his 2025 season last week with a strong showing, completing 26 of his 34 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown. Shapen's scoring toss gave him a touchdown pass in 16 consecutive games in which he's played. That's the second-longest active streak at the FBS level behind only Iowa State's Rocco Becht, who has thrown for a touchdown in 20 straight contests.
If it seems like MSU is always playing against a highly-ranked foe, well, that's because the Dawgs have been. Dating back to last year's game against then-No. 1 Texas, State has now played against a Top-15 opponent in six of its last 10 contests counting this Saturday's affair.
If the Dawgs can topple the Sun Devils, it'd give MSU its first victory over a ranked foe since Nov. 24, 2022. On that night, in what ended up being the final game of legendary head coach Mike Leach's career, Mississippi State defeated Ole Miss in Oxford to win the Egg Bowl.
Will a big kick be needed for Mississippi State on Saturday night? Only time will tell, but if it is, Kyle Ferrie will surely be ready for the moment. The junior kicker, who has been a model of consistency for the last couple of years, is off and running again this season. He connected on both of his field goal tries in last weekend's season opener, including a 55-yarder that now stands as the longest field goal in MSU history. The previous long was a 54-yarder from Artie Cosby back in 1985.
The MSU defense is looking to keep making big strides forward this year after getting off to a solid start last week. State surrendered just 301 yards to Southern Miss. It was the fewest yards the Bulldogs have allowed since the 2024 season opener. Defensive lineman Will Whitson was named SEC Co-Defensive Lineman of The Week for his efforts in the game. Whitson had four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the win. Meanwhile MSU had seven pass breakups as a team, led by corners Kelley Jones and DeAgo Brumfield who had two each.
Arizona State comes to Starkville looking for its first-ever road win against a Southeastern Conference opponent. There are a couple of caveats to that though. The Sun Devils have only played one prior road game against an SEC foe and that was at Georgia back in 2009. Arizona State has played at Missouri and Arkansas as well, but at the time of those battles, neither school was in the SEC.
Arizona State's trip to Starkville is just the Sun Devils' 16th-ever regular season game played east of the Mississippi River. ASU hasn't played such a game since facing off against Michigan State in 2019. All-time, Arizona State enters Saturday with a record of 7-8 in regular-season games played east of the Mississippi.
Mississippi State is turning on dark mode this week. The Bulldogs will be wearing new, all-black uniforms. It will be the first time MSU has taken the field wearing all black since 2020.
We'll see if those black unis start the game on the offensive side. If recent history is any indication, they will. Mississippi State has received the opening kickoff in every single game of the head coach Jeff Lebby era. In fact, the streak goes back even longer than that. The Bulldogs have started on offense in 17 straight games dating back to an Oct. 28, 2023, contest at Auburn.

Mississippi State University Athletics

First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Arizona State

Players Mentioned

DeAgo Brumfield

Kyle Ferrie

Kelley Jones

Blake Shapen

Will Whitson

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