Postgame Notes: Mississippi State 38, Northern Illinois 10

2025 Mississippi State Football Postgame Notes

Starkville, Miss. // Davis Wade Stadium  

Mississippi State 38, Northern Illinois 10

General Notes

Mississippi State and Northern Illinois met for the first time.

Uniform Combo: The Bulldogs wore their Maroon, Maroon, Gray uniform combo against Northern Illinois. The Maroon helmets featured the white Script State logo … This was the fourth unique uniform combo for MSU in as many games this season … This was the first time State wore the maroon/maroon/gray combo since playing Toledo in 2024.

Attendance: 45,803

Mississippi State has scored in 60 consecutive games dating back to October 21, 2020.

Mississippi State has started 4-0 for the first time since 2014 and just the 8th time in program history.

The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 at Davis Wade Stadium in 2025.

Game Captains & Coin Toss

Game Captains for State: #22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones (DL), #28 Tanner Johnson (S), #75 Jacoby Jackson (OL)

Northern Illinois won the toss and elected to receive.

Snapped a streak of 19 straight games receiving the opening kickoff.

First time under Head Coach Jeff Lebby that Mississippi State started the game on defense.

Mississippi State is now 7-9 on the coin toss under Jeff Lebby.

Offensive Team Notes

Mississippi State has scored on its game opening drive four times in 2025 … Longest streak in the Jeff Lebby era.

Mississippi State has outscored its opponents 55-6 in the first quarter this season and 86-23 in the first half.

The Bulldogs 13 play drive in the first quarter was the team's longest drive that resulted in a touchdown this season.

This is the first time since the 2022 season that Mississippi State has scored a touchdown on the opening possession of the first four games of the season.

Mississippi State scored on the opening drive of the second half for the third time this season.

State had 292 rushing yards, which is the first time since the 2018 season against Ole Miss and Arkansas that the Bulldogs have rushed for 250+ yards in back-to-back games.

The Bulldogs' 292 rushing yards were the most since Southeast Louisiana in 2023.

It was the first time since the Arkansas and Ole Miss games in 2016 that the Bulldogs have had 4+ rushing touchdowns in back-to-back games.

This is the third time under Lebby that the Bulldogs have had 4+ rushing touchdowns.

Offensive Player Notes

Blake Shapen

Has thrown a touchdown pass in 19 consecutive games, the second-longest active streak at the FBS level behind Iowa State's Rocco Becht (22 games).

Extended his consecutive start streak to 29 games.

Fluff Bothwell

Bothwell's 101 rushing yards is the first Bulldogs running back with over 100 rushing yards this season and the first since Davon Booth against Mizzou last season.

Brenen Thompson

Thompson had a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, which was his first career carry and rushing touchdown.

Anthony Evans III

Evans 57-yard reception was his team high seventh explosive play (4 receptions, 3 punt returns).

Evans and Thompson each have 4 receptions of over 20+ yards on the year.

Seydou Traore

Traore's receiving touchdown in the second quarter was his second of the season.

Davon Booth

Booth had his third career multi-touchdown game and his first as a Bulldog.

This was the third multi-touchdown game for a Bulldog running back this season, and the fourth for all Bulldogs.

Xavier Gayten

Gayten scored his second touchdown of the season, a career high total after scoring one as a freshman in 2024.

Defensive Team Notes

This was the fourth straight game that Mississippi State has not allowed a first quarter touchdown to open a season, which is the first time since 2018.

First time holding four straight opponents to 20-points or fewer in victory since 1999 when State opened the year holding its first seven opponents to under 20 points.

Mississippi State has allowed its fewest points through four games since 1999 (47).

First time since 2021 that the Bulldogs have opened a season with an interception in each of their first four games.

In 2021, State had an interception in each of its first five games.

Mississippi State forced two interceptions in the win, marking the second multi-interception game of the season (also had two vs. Arizona State).

Second straight game the Bulldogs have forced a fumble.

Defensive Player Notes

Isaac Smith

Recorded his first career interception in the third quarter.

DeAgo Brumfield

Recorded his first-ever Quarterback hurry.

Jayven Williams

Second straight game forcing a fumble.

Special Teams Notes

Mississippi State's Nevaeh Sanders blocked a punt in the second quarter ... It was the first blocked punt for State in 2025 and the first since Zakari Tillman blocked a punt at #1 Texas on Sept. 28, 2024.

Kyle Ferrie

Ferrie was 5-5 in PATs, extending his streak to 47 straight makes.

He is 84-for-85 in PATs in his career.

Ferrie's 48-yard field goal in the third quarter was his 30th career make, tying him with Scott Westerfield for 7th all-time in made FGs in a career.

Explosive Plays (6)

(plays of 20+ yards)

Blake Shapen

24-yard run, first quarter

22-yard scramble, third quarter

Jordan Mosley

45-yard reception from Shapen, third quarter

Fluff Bothwell

22-yard run, third quarter

Anthony Evans III

57-yard reception from Shapen, fourth quarter

Xavier Gayten

22-yard run, fourth quarter

Career Highs

Blake Shapen

Rushing yards – 51

Davon Booth

Rushing touchdowns – 2

Anthony Evans III

Longest reception – 57 yards

Isaac Smith

Interceptions – 1

DeAgo Brumfield

QB Hurries – 1

Malick Sylla

Tackles for loss – 1

Jayven Williams

Forced Fumbles – 1

Tackles for loss – 1

Mississippi State University Athletics

Postgame Notes: Mississippi State 38, Northern Illinois 10

Players Mentioned

Kedrick Bingley-Jones

Davon Booth

Fluff Bothwell

Anthony Evans III

Kyle Ferrie

Xavier Gayten

Jacoby Jackson

Tanner Johnson

Jordan Mosley

Nevaeh Sanders

Isaac Smith

Malick Sylla

Brenen Thompson

Zakari Tillman

Seydou Traore

Jayven Williams

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