Sep 192 min read

Mississippi State and Florida Battle for First SEC Win

Mississippi State | QB Blake Shapen — © Matt Bush-Imagn Images

The Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-2, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) will host the Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC) on Sept. 21 at noon EST at David Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss.

Mississippi State and Florida will battle for their first SEC win of the season. Both teams are off to a slow start with only one win on their records. This matchup will be important for both teams trying to turn around their seasons.

What's at Stake

Mississippi State has struggled under first-year head coach Jeff Lebby. After a disappointing 41-17 loss to Toledo (3-0) on Sept. 14, the Bulldogs need a win to build confidence as they face a difficult SEC schedule. Mississippi State's defense through the first three games has allowed the second-most yards per game in the SEC and the most rushing yards.

Florida head coach Billy Napier needs to turn around the season to keep his job. Now in his third season, Napier has a record of 12-16, including 6-11 in SEC play. Following a 33-20 loss at home to Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0 SEC) on Sept. 14, the Gators need to get back into the win column. They currently rank last in the SEC in both points allowed and total offensive yards given up.

Key Players: Mississippi State

The Bulldogs will rely on quarterback Blake Shapen and wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. Shapen ranks third in the SEC in passing yards, while Coleman is fourth in receiving yards. To win this game, the Bulldogs need these two to have a big game, especially in the first half. They have only managed to score a field goal by halftime in the last two games.

Mississippi State | WR Kevin Coleman Jr. — © Matt Bush-Imagn Images

Defensively, safety Isaac Smith and linebacker Stone Blanton play important parts. Smith leads the SEC in tackles with 43, while Blanton is tied for fourth with 23. Both players are coming off double-digit tackle performances and will need to step up to give the Bulldogs a chance to win.

Key Players: Florida

Gators quarterbacks Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway shared snaps in the loss against Texas A&M and both are expected to play against Mississippi State. The Gators will also look for a big performance from leading wide receiver Elijhah Badger, especially with wide receiver Eugene Wilson III ruled out for the second straight game.

On defense, defensive back Jordan Castell is important for Florida. He leads the team in pass deflections and is one of the leading tacklers for the Gators. Castell will play an important role in this matchup against the pass-heavy Bulldogs. With the team leader in QB sacks Tyreak Sapp sidelined, defensive end George Gumbs Jr. will need to make an impact for the Gators to have success.

Trends to Watch

This game carries significant weight for Napier's future at Florida. A 1-3 start to the season could be the end of his tenure after two subpar seasons. For Mississippi State, a win would give it much-needed momentum heading into back-to-back road games against No. 1 Texas (3-0) and No. 2 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC).