Mississippi State
4-1 , 0-1
Tennessee
4-1 , 1-1
State Falls In OT To No. 15 Tennessee
September 27, 2025 | Football
Bulldogs drop a 41-34 decision.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State battled hard but came up just short as the Bulldogs dropped a 41-34 overtime heartbreaker to No. 15 Tennessee on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.
With the game tied at 34-all at the end of regulation, the Volunteers scored a touchdown on the first play of the overtime period courtesy of a 25-yard run. On MSU's ensuing drive, the Dawgs looked poised to respond when they drove inside the 5-yard line. However, the Tennessee defense kept State out of the end zone on four consecutive plays to end the contest.
State running back Fluff Bothwell carried the ball for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the ballgame. Fellow running back Davon Booth also turned in a touchdown of his own. Quarterback Blake Shapen passed for 180 yards with a touchdown, but it wasn't enough for the Dawgs to prevail.
MSU opened up the contest by capitalizing off a muffed Tennessee punt, recovering and powering through with a quick drive and a five-yard touchdown punch from Bothwell to draw first blood and go up 7-0.
Tennessee responded with a field goal that was soon followed by a touchdown to take a 10-7 lead in the first quarter. The two teams went back and forth throughout the rest of the first half before ending up in a tie game at the break at 17-17.
The second half began with a field goal from Tennessee before State struck back with Bothwell to reclaim a 24-20 lead with 3:48 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth, the Volunteers got a scoop and score off a Shapen fumble to take a 27-24 lead with 13:29 to go. State was able to tie the game once more with Kyle Ferrie's second field goal. Then, MSU retook the lead with a touchdown pass from Shapen to Seydou Traore that made it 34-27 in State's favor.
Tennessee knotted things at 34-34 with a touchdown at the 1:55 mark of regulation. That ultimately forced overtime where the Vols emerged on the winning end.
Defensively, linebacker Branden Jennings led MSU with 10 total tackles and a pass breakup. Safety Jahron Manning also turned in six tackles and three pass breakups to go along with an interception. Linebacker Zakari Tillman added six tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and an interception of his own.
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Next Up for MSU…
The Bulldogs hit the road to face Texas A&M on Saturday, October 4, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised by SEC Network.
Team Stats
UT 0, MSU 7
MSU - Bothwell,Fluff 5 yd run (Ferrie,Kyle kick), 5 plays, 20 yards, TOP 01:38
UT 3, MSU 7
UT - Gilbert,Max 38 yd field goal 7 plays, 55 yards, TOP 02:30
UT 10, MSU 7
UT - Hood,Colton 23 yd interception (Gilbert,Max kick)
UT 10, MSU 14
MSU - Booth,Davon 5 yd run (Ferrie,Kyle kick), 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:26
UT 10, MSU 17
MSU - Ferrie,Kyle 51 yd field goal 8 plays, 51 yards, TOP 03:10
UT 17, MSU 17
UT - Brazzell II,Chris 15 yd pass from Aguilar,Joey (Gilbert,Max kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:16
UT 20, MSU 17
UT - Gilbert,Max 27 yd field goal 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 03:32
UT 20, MSU 24
MSU - Bothwell,Fluff 1 yd run (Ferrie,Kyle kick), 4 plays, 26 yards, TOP 01:01
UT 27, MSU 24
UT - Josephs,Joshua 41 yd fumble recovery (Gilbert,Max kick)
UT 27, MSU 27
MSU - Ferrie,Kyle 38 yd field goal 6 plays, 54 yards, TOP 02:58
UT 27, MSU 34
MSU - Traore,Seydou 2 yd pass from Shapen,Blake (Ferrie,Kyle kick) 5 plays, 17 yards, TOP 01:44
UT 34, MSU 34
UT - Aguilar,Joey 6 yd run (Gilbert,Max kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:04
UT 41, MSU 34
UT - Bishop,DeSean 25 yd run (Gilbert,Max kick), 1 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
