First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Alcorn State

STARKVILLE – After celebrating a huge win over then-No. 12 Arizona State last weekend, Mississippi State is looking to keep the party going at Davis Wade Stadium.

MSU hosts Alcorn State at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday as the Bulldogs seek a 3-0 start to the 2025 season.

Ahead of the contest, let's have a look at 10 items to be aware of headed into State's showdown against the Braves:

About that aforementioned possible 3-0 start for MSU, if it happens it'd be the first time the Bulldogs have won the first three games of a season since 2018. That year, State started the campaign with wins over Stephen F. Austin, Kansas State and Louisiana.
Of course the Dawgs enter this Saturday's action unbeaten because of what happened last Saturday when MSU knocked off then-No. 12 Arizona State 24-20. The victory was Mississippi State's first home non-conference win over an Associated Press Top-15 team since State topped No. 13 Texas in September of 1991.
MSU picked up a couple of weekly awards from the Southeastern Conference following the big win over Arizona State. Linebacker Nic Mitchell was named the Co-SEC Defensive Player of the Week, and Albert Reese IV was selected as Co-SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. State has now picked up at least one weekly conference award in both games this season after Will Whitson earned Co-SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors following MSU's win over Southern Miss.
Saturday marks just the third time Mississippi State has faced Alcorn State. The Magnolia State foes last met in 2013 when MSU earned a 51-7 triumph. Prior to that, the Bulldogs topped the Braves 49-16 in 2010.
Quarterback Blake Shapen has been strong so far this season in his return from the shoulder injury that cost him the final eight games last year. He enters Saturday having already passed for 551 yards and four touchdowns. All four scores have come on passes of 45 or more yards. Shapen has now thrown a touchdown pass in 17 straight games in which he's played. It's the nation's second-longest active streak at the FBS level behind only Iowa State's Rocco Becht, who has thrown for at least one score in 21 consecutive contests.
Half of Shapen's touchdown passes this season have gone to Brenen Thompson, with both of those coming last week. Thompson caught a 48-yard touchdown toss in the first quarter before scoring on the game-winning strike from 58 yards out. The two long-distance touchdowns made Thompson the first Bulldog player to have two or more receiving touchdowns of 45 or more yards in the same game since Donald Gray in 2016.
Speaking of big plays, MSU is among the nation's best at pulling them off. Entering play this week, the Bulldogs are tied for the SEC lead with three plays of 50 or more yards. State is tied for third in the FBS in the same category.
Alcorn State comes to Starkville looking for both its first-ever win over MSU, as well as its first victory this season. The Braves have started the season 0-2, losing 20-10 to Northwestern State before dropping a 41-31 decision to Alabama A&M last weekend.
A former Bulldog is on the Alcorn State roster. Linebacker Tobias Hinton, who spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons at MSU without seeing game action, has played in both Brave contests this year, collecting 13 total tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
If recent history is any indication, there's a good chance the Bulldogs will begin Saturday's game on offense. Mississippi State has received the opening kickoff in all 14 games of the head coach Jeff Lebby era, and MSU has received the opening kick in 18 straight games overall dating back to Oct. 28, 2023 against Auburn.

Mississippi State University Athletics

First-And-10 To Know: State vs. Alcorn State

Players Mentioned

Nic Mitchell

Albert Reese IV

Blake Shapen

Brenen Thompson

Will Whitson

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