Head Coach Jeff Lebby took the Mississippi State Bulldogs out west to face Arizona State for their first road trip of the season. Things went about as badly as they could have gone for the Bulldogs as the Arizona State Sun Devils dominated the Bulldogs from the jump. Sure, it might have been hotter than the face of the sun in Tempe, Arizona, but that was no excuse for the Bulldogs as they took a few steps back on Saturday night after opening the Lebby era with a bang last week against Eastern Kentucky.

Arizona State established the run early on, gashing the Bulldogs for significant gains and touchdowns on touchdowns. In the first half alone, Arizona State rushed for 107 yards, with Cam Skattebo leading the charge for the Sun Devils. Arizona State finished the first half with a 27-3 lead over the visiting Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Mississippi State’s lone three points in the first half came off the leg of Kyle Ferrie, who drilled a 32-yarder to put the Bulldogs on the board. Bogus offensive pass interference was the difference maker for the Bulldogs in the first half as they were close to scoring before the call and turned it over on the next play for a scoop and score for the Arizona State defense. From then on, the momentum had shifted, and Mississippi State had no answer for the overpowering Sun Devils running attack.

As the second half turned, Arizona State put together a nice drive that ended with three points to extend the Sun Devils’ lead to 30-3 over the Bulldogs.

Facing a 4th and three on the ASU six-yard, Mississippi State decided to go for it, grabbing a touchdown off a Keyvone Lee rushing touchdown to cap off a 12-play, 75-yard drive to cut into the Arizona State lead by making it 30-10 with 2:29 to play in the third. Mississippi State would hold the Arizona State offense near the end of the third quarter. As the 4th quarter rolled around, the Bulldogs had first and ten on the Arizona State 38-yard line. A defensive holding would give the Bulldogs a first down, where Blake Shapen would find Davon Booth in the endzone for a Mississippi State touchdown. A missed PAT attempt would make it 30-16 in favor of the Sun Devils with 13:09 to play.

Blake Shapen would take back-to-back sacks for a drive-killer. At 9:42 to play, the Bulldogs had to punt the ball away, putting pressure on the defense to get it back promptly for the Bulldogs’ offensive unit. Arizona would once again punt the ball away, giving Mississippi State the ball with 5:40 remaining in the game, down 30-16.

An 80-yard touchdown pass from Shapen to Kevin Coleman would cut the lead to seven with 5:27 to play. However, the first-half blunders were too much to overcome as the Sun Devils beat the Bulldogs 30-23. Cam Skattebo was too much for the Bulldogs to overcome.

However you slice it, Mississippi State showed a lot of fight in the second half and plenty to build off next week as they prepare to host Toledo on Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium. Toledo will be the final tune-up for Jeff Lebby and company before opening Southeastern Conference play on the 21st against the Florida Gators at Davis Wade Stadium.

Photo credits – Mississippi State Football on X