Mississippi State Drops SEC Opener to Florida in Starkville

© Matt Bush-Imagn Images

Mississippi State (1-3, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) opened SEC play with a 45-28 loss to Florida (2-2, 1-1 SEC) on Sept. 21 at David Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss.

The Bulldogs continued their slow start to the season with another home loss. The Gators secured their first SEC win thanks to one of their best offensives performances of the season.

Game Summary

In the first quarter, both teams exchanged blows. The Gators struck first with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Graham Mertz to tight end Arlis Boardingham with 3:39 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs responded with a goal-line touchdown from running back Davon Booth with 21 seconds left in the quarter.

Florida's offense then exploded for 21 points in the second quarter. Mississippi State brought the game within one possession on their first possession in the second half, which cut the Gators lead to 28-21. The Bulldogs offense would not be consistent and allowed the Gators to cruise to a 45-28 win.

Turning Point

After a competitive first quarter, the Gators explosive second quarter would allow them to maintain control for the rest of the game. Mertz completed 19 of his 21 pass attempts for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns. Florida would also play quarterback DJ Lagway, who completed all 7 of his pass attempts for 76 yards.

Mississippi State was able to find some success on offense and put up 480 yards of offense in the game. The Bulldogs had numerous drives that stalled out due to self-inflicted wounds, they had 8 penalties for 70 yards in the game.

What It Means for Mississippi State

Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapen left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury. Going forward the Bulldogs may have to rely on freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., depending on the severity of Shapen's injury. After entering the game, Van Buren threw for 100 yards in his first appearance for the Bulldogs. With only one win, the Bulldogs face a tough SEC schedule ahead and must improve on both sides of the ball to find success this season.

© Matt Bush-Imagn Images

What It Means for Florida

After losing 33-20 at home against Texas A&M (2-1, 1-0 SEC) on Sept. 14, the Gators showcased an impressive offensive attack. They racked up more than 500 total yards, 277 passing yards and 226 rushing. This win was crucial for Florida to build momentum as they approach one of the toughest remaining schedules in the country. For Florida head coach Billy Napier, this victory provided a much-needed boost and secured his job for at least another week.