Post Game Notes: Mississippi State 24, #12 Arizona State 20

2025 Mississippi State Football Post Game Notes
Starkville, Miss. // Davis Wade Stadium
Mississippi State 24, #12 Arizona State 20

General Notes

Mississippi State and Arizona State met for the 2nd time, and State improved to 1-1 against the Sun Devils.
This was the first meeting in Starkville following the 2024 meeting in Tempe, Ariz.
Uniform Combo: The Bulldogs debuted all black jerseys against Arizona State. The black helmets featured the white Script State logo while wearing black jerseys with black pants.
This was the first time since 2020 that State wore all black and just the 9th time in program history to wear black.
Mississippi State is 7-2 all-time in black with six straight wins since 2011.
This was the 4th time State wore black against a non-conference opponent.
First time playing a Power-4 opponent while wearing black.
First time wearing black in a home opener.
Attendance: 50,808
Mississippi State has scored in 58 consecutive games dating back to October 21, 2020.
The Bulldogs improved to 96-27-2 in home openers.
This was Mississippi State's first win over an AP Top 15 non-conference opponent at home since the Bulldogs defeated No. 13 Texas on September 7, 1991. State won that game 13-6.

Game Captains & Coin Toss

Game Captains for State: #8 Seydou Traore (TE), #22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones (DL), #44 Branden Jennings (LB), #76 Albert Reese IV (OL)
Mississippi State won the toss and elected to receive.
Mississippi State has received the opening kickoff in 18 straight games dating back to October 28, 2023.
Mississippi State is now 7-7 on the coin toss under Jeff Lebby.

Offensive Team Notes

The opening drive touchdown was the 11th time under Lebby that the Bulldogs have scored a touchdown in four or fewer plays.
MSU scored on the opening possession of the game in back-to-back games for the first time under Lebby.
In the second quarter, State scored in two plays to increase the total to 12 touchdowns under Lebby in four plays or fewer.
State scored two touchdowns in the first half, both greater than 45 yards. It was the first time since Eastern Kentucky in 2024 that State has scored at least two touchdowns of 45+ yards in the same game.
State scored a third touchdown, a game-winning 47-yard reception from Brenen Thompson in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.
Blake Shapen's 279 passing yards are the third game in a row that Mississippi State has thrown for 200+ yards in a game.
With Blake Shapen's touchdown passes of 47, 48, and 58 yards, he becomes the first quarterback to have three or more 45+ yard touchdown passes since Nick Fitzgerald on October 29, 2016, against Samford.
Brenen Thompson (133) and Anthony Evans III (108) became the first State receiving duo to each have 100+ receiving yards in the same game since September 26, 2020, against LSU, when Osirus Mithcell, Kylin Hill, and JaVonta Payton each had 100+ yards.

Offensive Player Notes
Blake Shapen

Has now thrown a touchdown pass in 17 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak at the FBS level behind Iowa State's Rocco Becht (21 games).
Extended his consecutive start streak to 27 games.
Shapen was 3-5 for 153 yards on passes farther than 15 yards

Brenen Thompson

The 48-yard first quarter touchdown was his first as a member of the Bulldogs.
The 58-yard fourth quarter touchdown made him the first Mississippi State receiver to have 2+ receiving touchdowns in the same game since Kelly Akharaiyi at Georgia in 2024.
With his two 45+ yard receiving touchdowns, Thompson becomes the first player since Donald Gray on October 29, 2016, to have 2+ receiving touchdowns of 45+ yards.
Led the team in receiving yards with 133 yards.
It was his first career 100-yard game.

Davon Booth

His 15-yard run in the first quarter was the longest rushing play by a Bulldog.

Anthony Evans III

His 48-yard first quarter touchdown was his first touchdown with Mississippi State.
Led the Bulldogs in all-purpose yards with 139 yards (108 receiving yards and 31 punt return yards)
It was his first career 100-receiving-yard game.
Evans set a new high in season receiving yards with 144 receiving yards this season.

Jayvin Q. James

Made his first start and appearance as a Bulldog.

Defensive Team Notes

Mississippi State held its opponent scoreless in the first quarter for the first time since the 2024 season opener against Eastern Kentucky.
Held the Sun Devils to just three points at halftime, the first time the Bulldogs have done so since the Egg Bowl in 2023.
First time since the 2023 Egg Bowl that MSU did not allow a first-half touchdown or allow a first-half touchdown to a ranked opponent.
Second game in a row with an interception for the Bulldogs.
It's the first time since 2021 that the Bulldogs have opened a season with an interception in back-to-back games.
Last time Mississippi State had two interceptions versus a ranked opponent since October 19, 2024 against Texas A&M.
Jahron Manning and Nic Mitchell led the team in tackles with nine each.
Six players set career highs in tackles.
- DeAgo Brumfield (7), Derion Gullete (7), Zakari Tillman (7), Kalvin Dinkins (6), Kedrick Bingley-Jones (3), Jaray Bledseo (2)
Mississippi State held Arizona State at the goal line for three straight plays and allowed just a field goal with 1:38 left to play, allowing the offense to get the ball back for the game-winning touchdown.

Defensive Player Notes
Deonte Anderson

Earned his first career solo sack

Isaac Smith

Has recorded at least five tackles in 13 straight games, the longest active streak on the team

Jayven Williams

First interception at Mississippi State
Second of his career

Special Teams Notes
Kyle Ferrie

Went 1-1 on field goals, connecting on a field goal from 37 yards.
He was 3-3 in PATs, extending his streak to 35 straight makes.
He is 72-for-73 in PATs in his career.
His 72nd PAT moves him to 8th all-time passing, Devon Bell and Evan Sobiesk.

Ethan Pulliam

Had punts of 45 and 44 yards, pinning one inside the 20-yard line.

Nathan Tiyce

Had a long punt of 45 yards, pinning one on the 4-yard line.

Explosive Plays (4)
(plays of 20+ yards)
Anthony Evans III:

48-yard receiving touchdown from Blake Shapen, first quarter
20-yard punt return, first quarter

Brenen Thompson:

47-yard receiving touchdown from Blake Shapen, second quarter
58-yard receiving touchdown from Blake Shapen, fourth quarter

Career Highs
Anthony Evans III

Longest Reception – 48 yards
Receptions – 9
Receiving Yards – 108 yards

Ricky Johnson

Longest Reception – 12 yards

Brenen Thompson

Touchdowns – 2 touchdowns
Receiving Yards – 133 yards

Deonte Anderson

Sacks – 1

DeAgo Brumfield

Tackles – 7

Derion Gullette

Tackles – 7

Zakari Tillman

Tackles – 7

Kalvin Dinkins

Tackles – 6

Kedrick Bingley-Jones

Tackles – 3

Mississippi State University Athletics

Post Game Notes: Mississippi State 24, #12 Arizona State 20

Players Mentioned

Kelly Akharaiyi

Deonte Anderson

Kedrick Bingley-Jones

Davon Booth

DeAgo Brumfield

Kalvin Dinkins

Anthony Evans III

Kyle Ferrie

Derion Gullette

Jayvin Q. James

Branden Jennings

Ricky Johnson

Jahron Manning

Nic Mitchell

Ethan Pulliam

Albert Reese IV

Blake Shapen

Isaac Smith

Brenen Thompson

Zakari Tillman

Nathan Tiyce

Seydou Traore

Jayven Williams

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