STARKVILLE – Mississippi State will play its third straight game against a ranked team as the Bulldogs take on No. 16/17 Texas A&M on Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium.
Kickoff between the Bulldogs (4-3, 1-3 SEC) and Aggies (5-2, 3-1 SEC) is set for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
For complete gameday and stadium information, visit HailState.com/gameday.
Viewing InformationThe game will be televised live on ESPN with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Tom Luginbill (reporter) calling the action. Live streaming video is available via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Listening InformationThe MSU Sports Network C Spire Tailgate Show goes live at 4 p.m. CT Neil Price, Matt Wyatt and Jay Perry will call the game on the network (check for affiliates here). Live audio is also available for FREE at HailState.com and via the TuneIn app. Fans in Starkville and inside Davis Wade Stadium can tune to 100.9 FM.
Tickets
The Davis Wade Stadium ticket office opens at 3 p.m. CT. Tickets are also available for purchase on HailState.com.
Gates Open at Davis Wade Stadium
All gates will open at 3:45 p.m. CT.
Fan Zone
The C Spire Fan Zone opens at 2 p.m. CT.
Dawg Walk
The "Dawg Walk" will take place at 3:45 p.m. CT in the Junction.
What to WearUpper level wear Maroon, lower level wear White.
Social Media/Live Stats Live updates from the game are available via MSU's official social media channels: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (click the links). Live stats are available via Stat Broadcast at MSU.StatBroadcast.com.
By the Numbers
1 –Touchdown allowed by State's defense in its opponents' last 30 offensive possessions
8 – Combined individual 100-yard rushing games by MSU players this season, the most in the SEC
8 – Offensive touchdowns allowed by MSU this season, the fewest in the FBS
14 – Plays by MSU opponents that have resulted in 25+ yards or a touchdown, the fewest in the FBS
18 – Games over MSU's last 20 that either Montez Sweat or Jeffery Simmons has had at least one TFL
48 – Combined tackles for loss by Montez Sweat (26.5) and Jeffery Simmons (21.5) in the last 20 games
Five Things to Know
1. Led by defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, MSU's defense is one of the most elite units in college football this season. The Bulldogs lead the SEC and rank sixth in the FBS in total defense (282.4), rank second in the SEC and fourth in the FBS in scoring defense (13.6), rank second in the SEC and 10th in the FBS in passing defense (167.9) and rank fourth in the SEC and 22nd in the FBS in rushing defense (114.6).
2. Consensus midseason All-American and college football's most feared pass rusher Montez Sweat leads all Power 5 players in sacks since 2017 (19). Sweat is tied for third in the FBS and the SEC lead in sacks in 2018 (8.5). He also ranks third in the SEC and tied for 17th in the FBS in tackles for loss (11).
3. Nick Fitzgerald set the school record for 100-yard rushing games (18) with 131 yards at No. 5 LSU. It was the second straight game and the fourth time this season he has topped the 100-yard mark. Fitzgerald has 3,130 career rushing yards and is the only quarterback in SEC history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a career. Fitzgerald's 107.3 rushing yards per game is tops in the FBS among quarterbacks.
4. Despite drawing double-teams play after play, Jeffery Simmons still finds a way to be disruptive and make his way into backfields. Simmons has 9.5 tackles for loss this season, which is tied for fourth in the SEC. He averages 1.36 tackles for loss per game, which ranks fifth in the league. Simmons’ 36 total tackles are the most in the SEC among defensive linemen. He boasts a 91.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which is second in the SEC among defensive interior linemen while his 91.7 run-defense grade is second.
5. The Bulldogs have been one of the nation's best at limiting opponents in scoring. MSU has allowed 95 total points through seven games this season, the fifth-fewest in the FBS. State ranks fourth in the FBS in scoring defense (13.6). MSU has allowed opponents to find the end zone only eight times, the fewest in the nation. State has forced opponents to kick 13 field goals. LSU kicked four last Saturday. The Bulldogs have held opponents to less than 14 points a nation's best five times and is 4-1 in those games.
Series History
– MSU and Texas A&M are meeting for the 12th time and the sixth time as both members of the SEC.
– The Bulldogs lead the series, 6-5, and have won the last two meetings and three out of the last four.
– State's last two victories were by unranked Bulldog teams defeating ranked Texas A&M teams.
– MSU has won the last two in Starkville and the Aggies haven't won in Davis Wade Stadium since 2012.
– The Bulldogs have scored at least 35 points in four out of the last meetings.
– The last meeting in Starkville saw unranked MSU knock off No. 4 Texas A&M 35-28 on Nov. 5, 2016.
– Arguably, the most famous game between the two occurred in the 2000 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, during a rare snowstorm in the area.
– The “Snow Bowl” saw Texas A&M build a 14-0 lead in the first quarter but MSU eventually won 43-41.
Kickoff between the Bulldogs (4-3, 1-3 SEC) and Aggies (5-2, 3-1 SEC) is set for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
For complete gameday and stadium information, visit HailState.com/gameday.
Viewing InformationThe game will be televised live on ESPN with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Tom Luginbill (reporter) calling the action. Live streaming video is available via the Watch ESPN app and WatchESPN.com.
Listening InformationThe MSU Sports Network C Spire Tailgate Show goes live at 4 p.m. CT Neil Price, Matt Wyatt and Jay Perry will call the game on the network (check for affiliates here). Live audio is also available for FREE at HailState.com and via the TuneIn app. Fans in Starkville and inside Davis Wade Stadium can tune to 100.9 FM.
Tickets
The Davis Wade Stadium ticket office opens at 3 p.m. CT. Tickets are also available for purchase on HailState.com.
Gates Open at Davis Wade Stadium
All gates will open at 3:45 p.m. CT.
Fan Zone
The C Spire Fan Zone opens at 2 p.m. CT.
Dawg Walk
The "Dawg Walk" will take place at 3:45 p.m. CT in the Junction.
What to WearUpper level wear Maroon, lower level wear White.
Social Media/Live Stats Live updates from the game are available via MSU's official social media channels: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (click the links). Live stats are available via Stat Broadcast at MSU.StatBroadcast.com.
By the Numbers
1 –Touchdown allowed by State's defense in its opponents' last 30 offensive possessions
8 – Combined individual 100-yard rushing games by MSU players this season, the most in the SEC
8 – Offensive touchdowns allowed by MSU this season, the fewest in the FBS
14 – Plays by MSU opponents that have resulted in 25+ yards or a touchdown, the fewest in the FBS
18 – Games over MSU's last 20 that either Montez Sweat or Jeffery Simmons has had at least one TFL
48 – Combined tackles for loss by Montez Sweat (26.5) and Jeffery Simmons (21.5) in the last 20 games
Five Things to Know
1. Led by defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, MSU's defense is one of the most elite units in college football this season. The Bulldogs lead the SEC and rank sixth in the FBS in total defense (282.4), rank second in the SEC and fourth in the FBS in scoring defense (13.6), rank second in the SEC and 10th in the FBS in passing defense (167.9) and rank fourth in the SEC and 22nd in the FBS in rushing defense (114.6).
2. Consensus midseason All-American and college football's most feared pass rusher Montez Sweat leads all Power 5 players in sacks since 2017 (19). Sweat is tied for third in the FBS and the SEC lead in sacks in 2018 (8.5). He also ranks third in the SEC and tied for 17th in the FBS in tackles for loss (11).
3. Nick Fitzgerald set the school record for 100-yard rushing games (18) with 131 yards at No. 5 LSU. It was the second straight game and the fourth time this season he has topped the 100-yard mark. Fitzgerald has 3,130 career rushing yards and is the only quarterback in SEC history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in a career. Fitzgerald's 107.3 rushing yards per game is tops in the FBS among quarterbacks.
4. Despite drawing double-teams play after play, Jeffery Simmons still finds a way to be disruptive and make his way into backfields. Simmons has 9.5 tackles for loss this season, which is tied for fourth in the SEC. He averages 1.36 tackles for loss per game, which ranks fifth in the league. Simmons’ 36 total tackles are the most in the SEC among defensive linemen. He boasts a 91.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which is second in the SEC among defensive interior linemen while his 91.7 run-defense grade is second.
5. The Bulldogs have been one of the nation's best at limiting opponents in scoring. MSU has allowed 95 total points through seven games this season, the fifth-fewest in the FBS. State ranks fourth in the FBS in scoring defense (13.6). MSU has allowed opponents to find the end zone only eight times, the fewest in the nation. State has forced opponents to kick 13 field goals. LSU kicked four last Saturday. The Bulldogs have held opponents to less than 14 points a nation's best five times and is 4-1 in those games.
Series History
– MSU and Texas A&M are meeting for the 12th time and the sixth time as both members of the SEC.
– The Bulldogs lead the series, 6-5, and have won the last two meetings and three out of the last four.
– State's last two victories were by unranked Bulldog teams defeating ranked Texas A&M teams.
– MSU has won the last two in Starkville and the Aggies haven't won in Davis Wade Stadium since 2012.
– The Bulldogs have scored at least 35 points in four out of the last meetings.
– The last meeting in Starkville saw unranked MSU knock off No. 4 Texas A&M 35-28 on Nov. 5, 2016.
– Arguably, the most famous game between the two occurred in the 2000 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, during a rare snowstorm in the area.
– The “Snow Bowl” saw Texas A&M build a 14-0 lead in the first quarter but MSU eventually won 43-41.
