On a picture-perfect night for football in Mississippi, the Mississippi State Bulldogs welcomed Arizona State to Davis Wade Stadium for the first Saturday night in Starkville, Mississippi. Mississippi State would look to get revenge against an Arizona State team they should have beaten last season, while sending a clear message to the rest of the country that the 2025 Mississippi State Bulldogs were a vastly improved team with enough talent on the roster to make some noise this season. 

Mississippi State opened the game with the ball and took the opening drive right down the field for an opening drive touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead over the Sun Devils. Kyle Ferrie would add a 37-yard field goal with 1:18 in the first quarter to extend the Mississippi State lead to 10-0 over Arizona State. With 12:51 on the clock in the second quarter, Blake Shapen would find Brenen Thompson on a monster touchdown to extend the Mississippi State lead to 17-0. Mississippi State would fall victim to a bogus, unnecessary roughness penalty that led to an Arizona State field goal as the Sun Devils cut the Mississippi State lead to 17-3 at the break. 

With a slight shift in momentum following the field goal to end the half, Arizona State would open the second half with the ball as they looked to flip the script from a two-score game to a one-score game early in the second half. Arizona State would do just that with a long drive that ended with a Sun Devils touchdown, cutting the Mississippi State lead to 17-10 with 10:34 on the third quarter clock. Following the touchdown drive from the Sun Devils, the Arizona State defense forced a quick three-and-out for the Mississippi State offense, giving the Sun Devils the ball back with momentum and 9:03 on the third quarter clock. At the end of the third, Mississippi State held on to a 17-10 lead over Arizona State with the Sun Devils on the eight-yard line facing a second and seven. 

Arizona State would capitalize by going for it on 4th and goal and converting with a game-tying touchdown with a little over 13 minutes remaining in the game. With 1:38 on the clock, Arizona State would take its first lead of the game with an 18-yard field goal to make it 20-17. Mississippi State would have lady luck smiling down on them as Blake Shapen connected with Brenen Thompson on a 58-yard touchdown pass that would steal the victory for the Bulldogs. 

Everything about Saturday night was special as the Bulldogs looked defeat in the eye and held their ground as they picked up the first signature win of the Coach Jeff Lebby era in Starkville.

Mississippi State will remain at home next Saturday as it welcomes Alcorn State to Davis Wade Stadium for the third non-conference game of the season. 

Photo Credits- Mississippi State Football on X