Mississippi State Football Preview 2025: Season Prediction, Top Players, Win Total
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN2025 Miss State Football PreviewOffense & Defense Breakdowns
Mississippi State Bulldogs Key to the Season
Generate a pass rush.This is everything to the entire season. Mississippi State came up with two sacks against Eastern Kentucky in the opener, two against UMass, and a mere six in the other ten games. Six times the D failed to generate a sack.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Key Player
Dwight Lewis III, CB Sr.The NAIA star needs to rise up and rock at one corner spot. He has size, experience, and was solid over the last two seasons with seven picks and 58 tackles at Marian University. At the very least, he has to be a top backup option.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Fluff Bothwell, RB Soph.Florida State quarterback Luke Kromenhoek might have the most talent and biggest upside - he might be the star of the season if things go a certain way. But the 5-10, 219-pound Bothwell should add another dimension with his power. He averaged 7.5 yards per carry last year for South Alabama with 13 touchdowns, and he can catch, too.Top Transfer Out: Brice Pollock, QB Jr.Losing top targets Kevin Coleman (Missouri) and Mario Craver (Texas A&M) is a problem, but not having a corner who came up with a team-leading nine broken up passes with 48 stops really hurts. He's part of Texas Tech's huge haul of transfer talent.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Key Game
Arizona State, Sept. 6Of course there are higher profile games than this for Mississippi State, and of course it wants to get past Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl to end the regular season. But Arizona State is the measuring stick moment.Last year, before anyone knew what was coming, Cam Skattebo and the Sun Devils powered past the Bulldogs 30-23 in Week 2. Almost exactly a year later, the rematch is in Starkville, and it's the first of four games against CFP teams from last season.- 2025 Mississippi State Schedule Breakdown
Mississippi State Bulldogs Top 10 Players
1. Isaac Smith, S Jr.2. Blake Shapen, QB Sr.3. Davon Booth, RB Sr.4. Branden Jennings, EDGE Sr.5. Fluff Bothwell, RB Soph.6. Seydou Traore, TE Sr.7. Jalen Smith, LB Soph.8. Red Hibbler, EDGE Sr.9. Luke Kromenhoek, QB Soph.10. Nic Mitchell, LB Sr.
Mississippi State Bulldogs 2024 Fun Stats
- First Half Points: Opponents 258, Miss State 153- Time of Possession: Opponents 34:19, Miss State 25:41- Passing Yards: Opponents 2,874, Miss State 2,871
Mississippi State Bulldogs 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Mississippi State will be better.There's far more depth, Jeff Lebby is in his second year of a rebuild, and there's more talent to work with.The win total will be better after the 2-10 clunker when nothing went quite right. The Bulldogs will beat Southern Miss, take down Alcorn State, and beat Northern Illinois. They're also good enough to pull off an SEC win somewhere after getting shut out last year.But where?
Not only does Mississippi State get Arizona State early on in non-conference play, but the seemingly easiest SEC dates are Arkansas and Florida, and both of those games are on the road.It'll take something big to not be double-digit underdogs in at least six of the eight conference games, but it'll be a step-forward season with double the wins of last year - for what that's worth.Set The Mississippi State Bulldogs Win Total At … 4.5Likely Wins: Alcorn State, Northern Illinois, at Southern Miss50/50 Games: Arizona State, at Arkansas, at Florida, Ole Miss, TennesseeLikely Losses: Georgia, at Missouri, Texas, at Texas A&M2025 Miss State Football PreviewOffense & Defense Breakdowns
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Miami Herald
5 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Saniyah King left her mark at Howard. Now she eyes success in the SEC.
Saniyah King, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, did not land at Mississippi State for the next chapter of her basketball career due to a lack of success or a winning pedigree. The ex-HBCU point guard averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a MEAC and Bison-best 4.5 assists per game while starting in 31 of 32 games for Howard University last season. She also dished the second-most assists (145) among freshmen in the nation behind Florida Gators guard Liv McGill. King wants to continue her basketball evolution with dreams of playing in the WNBA after college. With the departure of MSU's guards Jerkaila Jordan and Eniya Russell to graduation, and Denim DeShields taking her talents to Mississippi (Ole Miss), the Bulldogs needed another collection of elite point guards. King is what Purcell needs while also believing the Bulldogs' coach and his staff will help her fulfill her hoops dream. "My main goal [for entering the transfer portal] was development," King told HBCU Gameday. "I know [Mississippi State] is going to help me become the best version of myself." Things will look extremely different for King this fall. She spent her entire life in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region with her mother, Stacey Pettiford. However, Pettiford - an HBCU alum from Howard University - tried to get the 5'7" point guard to leave the DMV to explore her basketball dreams elsewhere. "I wanted her to go away," Pettiford said. "It's a big world out there, and she'd experienced the DMV all of her life." King wasn't ready to take her talents from the big city to a new hoops terrain. But now, as she transitions to Starkville, Mississippi, the sophomore floor general is ready to embrace her next chapter, one that will include some "peace and quiet." "I wanted to slow my life down," King said. "I don't know what life is like without hearing trains, ambulances, and cars constantly passing by. I wanted new scenery. That helps me feel at peace now." King's choice and determination to ditch familiarity for the Magnolia State would not be possible without confidence in her dream, faith in God, and the lessons learned at "The Mecca" of HBCU culture. King, who at 10 years old did not have experience hooping with an elite club team, strolled into a DMV gym for a tryout with the Lady Prime AAU basketball team, coached by then-Washington D.C. street hoops legend Lonnie Harrell. Tons of budding, young female basketball players graced the court. After a couple of drills and some intense 5-on-5 action, Harrell walked over to Pettiford and did not waste any time in his desire for King to join the team. "I remember [her tryout] like it was yesterday," Pettiford said. "Harrell was like, 'we need her' and asked 'how long had she [Saniyah] been playing?'" King's genesis in basketball began with playing with boys at the park during recess in elementary school and running a few houses down the street in her Bowie, Maryland, neighborhood to play pickup games during the week. "I didn't think I was good," King said with a laugh. Her talent reached new heights when she joined Lady Prime. That season, King and her teammates didn't lose a game. As her skills grew with Lady Prime, it later opened the door for success at Bishop Ireton - a private Catholic high school in Alexandria, Virginia - as well as on the AAU circuit playing for Team Durant EYBL, named after 15-time NBA All-Star and DMV native Kevin Durant. However, a "turning point" in her personal development came during the height of the coronavirus pandemic when she completed workout sessions three times per day with Joshua Morgan-Green, the founder of the Triple Threat training regimen based in Annapolis Junction, Maryland. "I was probably there from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.," King said. "When I was younger, I was always stronger and a little faster than my peers. That summer, I really got skilled. My ball handling went to a different level, I perfected my shot, and learned how to work. He [Green] changed my life." King entered the Washington, D.C.-based HBCU after excelling in the classroom as an AP scholar and becoming one of the top 15 point guards in Virginia for assists per game. She held a long lineage of Howard pride in her family. Pettiford, one of King's 11 family members to attend HU, played a key part in her daughter's interest in attending Howard after many years of taking King to basketball games and events on the HBCU campus. King, who had spent all of 18 years of her life living with her mom prior to attending HU, saw Pettiford depart the DMV to move to Atlanta during her freshman year. "When I was at home with her [Pettiford] every day, I would spend most of my time in my room," King said with a laugh. "Seeing her leave helped me mature emotionally." With a 10-hour trek separating the two, King began to realize the lessons Pettiford shared with her about life, time management, and avoiding worldly distractions in pursuit of her dreams, both on and off the court. However, when she entered the gates of the renowned Main Quadrangle, walked across The Yard or stepped inside Frederick Douglas Memorial Hall and Burr Gymnasium for the first time, she quickly found out that Howard was the epitome of "Black excellence" but also a place where she had to grow up and balance a myriad of priorities as a student athlete. "I underestimated college," King said. "Howard helped me come to that realization very fast. It wasn't the normal college experience. … Howard really prepares you for the real world." While pursuing a degree in psychology, King navigated her way as the only freshman on a veteran HBCU women's basketball program - coached by Ty Grace - that featured a combined dozen seniors and grad transfer players, including her friend and teammate, Destiny Howell, the Bison's leading scorer in 2024. "Saniyah is just the player you enjoy and want to play with," Howell previously told Howard Athletics consultant Rob Knox in December. "The first thing I noticed about her is that she is not scared of work, she does not duck no smoke. …She is a good person, making it easier to be a good teammate." King shared similar sentiments about Howell and also credited her leadership. "Destiny [Howell] always sat and watched game film with me and offered encouraging words," King said. "She would tell me that I'm "HER" and to walk like it." But with Pettiford away and a surplus of daily college life distractions around her, it forced King to find herself while remaining focused on her goals in the classroom as well as becoming the best point guard on the hardwood. King leaned into her faith in God to navigate her challenges. Each day, she logged into Instagram, swiped to her bio section and visited one of her highlights named Daily Words of Encouragement (DWOE), which listed her favorite Bible verses and quotes. One of her go-to scriptures comes from Matthew 19:26, which reads, "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" As her freshman season progressed, when she wasn't in class, at practice, or lifting weights with her teammates, she watched sermons and read the Bible, drawing closer to God when she was unable to attend Sunday services at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Silver Springs, Maryland. "I was in a place where I had to find and put God at the forefront of my life," King said. "His presence in my life strengthened my mindset and my vision to conquer my goals." As King embraced her walk with God, she matured in the face of adversity. King, who became a force for Howard in HBCU women's basketball, captured Rookie of the Week honors 11 times. With three games remaining against North Carolina Central, South Carolina State, and the defending MEAC champions Norfolk State, Howard sat in second place (17-9) in the MEAC standings. The Bison entered their clash with NCCU, winners of seven consecutive contests and 10 of their last 11 games since league play began on Jan. 4. And for King, her focus remained on finishing the season strong and getting another chance to face the Spartans. However, things took a twist for the Bison point guard. King injured her left foot in Howard's 74-51 victory against the Eagles, sidelining her for the final games of the regular season. She wasn't a stranger to foot injuries. King struggled with bone bruises over the years due to the absence of an arch in her feet. But with the MEAC tournament around the corner, her shot at helping Howard dethrone the Spartans and securing an automatic bid in the women's NCAA tournament remained in motion. However, with an injury comes a wave of emotions and physical challenges. When she returned to the court for the league tourney - specifically in Howard's matchup against Maryland Eastern Shore in the MEAC semifinals - King didn't feel like herself on the court. "I played a little scared," King said. "I wasn't trying to land a certain way [on my foot] and I kept thinking about that. That's not my usual mindset." HU's win set up the MEAC title against the Spartans and future 2025 WNBA signee Diamond Johnson, a player whom King respected, studied, and watched from afar throughout her college career in the Big Ten and HBCU hoops. But like the first two contests, NSU defeated Howard 68-56, ending the Bison's NCAA tourney hopes. "This was supposed to be the time that I shined [on the court]," King said. "It was almost like they [Spartans] had every single play we tried to run rehearsed." Still, the Bison received an automatic qualifying bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT), defeating Siena at home in the first round before losing to Charleston in the second round. Despite the loss, King felt like she took a step forward in her progression after the injury. "My shot was falling, it was like I had woken back up," she said. As King transitions to Starkville, she's embracing the progression of her game. Her daily 7 a.m. workouts include weight lifting, watching film, listening to basketball podcasts as well as improving her technique and feel for reading ball screens and elevating her shooting percentage from beyond the arc. "I hate waking up early," King said. "But since the season ended, I continued that habit. … Losing in the [MEAC] tournament and heading to a new school has inspired me to work even harder this summer. I want to improve my vision to open up the floor more for my teammates." King will have the opportunity to upgrade those skills and more as one of the Bulldogs' floor generals, in addition to pursuing a business degree at MSU. As she navigates her process, King is catching up on family time with her grandfather - who never missed her home games - and spending time with her four little brothers all under the age of 12. She's also going on nail appointments, along with brunch and dinner dates with Pettiford. And when the two aren't tasting new foods at a restaurant, King is whipping up delightful meals in the kitchen, featuring entrées like whole fish, alfredo, roasted Branzino, along with an occasional sweet potato casserole. "She's really a whole chef," Pettiford said with a laugh. "Cooking in the kitchen and on the court." For King, Howard University and her time in HBCU basketball symbolized family on multiple fronts. While she won't walk across The Yard every day this fall, she will take the memories of her teammates and a stronger relationship with Pettiford to Mississippi for a new beginning. "God gave me the older sisters I always wanted but I never had when he brought me to Howard," King said. I love and will miss them all. The post Saniyah King left her mark at Howard. Now she eyes success in the SEC. appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
LSU Target Decommits From Mississippi State
LSU Target Decommits From Mississippi State originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The LSU Tigers own the No. 2 recruiting class in 2026 and are looking to add quite a few more pieces before it's all said and done. On Monday, they got some good news about one of their top targets. Advertisement Emanuel Tucker, a four-star offensive tackle in the 2026 class, announced he was decomitting from Mississippi State and will be opening his recruitment back up. Oct 7, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general view of a LSU Tigers helmet against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY SportsDenny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Tucker ranks as a four-star and the No. 203 overall recruit in the 2026 class according to On3's Industry Rankings. The former Mississippi State commit is the No. 16 offensive tackle in the class and would be a massive addition to LSU's offensive line, which only has one tackle at the moment. Tucker's decommitment comes at an opportune time for LSU and other schools trying to secure his commitment. He just visited Ole Miss and will be making his way to Baton Rouge shortly, so they'll have a chance to make a lasting impression on Tucker. Advertisement LSU's 2026 class ranks second behind USC, who currently have 27 commitments. The Tigers are less than .200 points behind the Trojans despite having just nine commitments. The Tigers' 2026 class contains two five-stars (Richard Anderson, Tristen Keys), six four-stars and one three-star. If they can close things out with Tucker, they'll inch even closer to Lincoln Riley's class. With some new NIL dollars and an elite recruiting staff, LSU is going to be a threat to sign the No. 1 class pretty much every year. They lock down the state of Louisiana and aren't afraid to go out of state to get a guy they really like. We'll have see if Brad Davis and Brian Kelly can get things done with Tucker, but it would be a big get for their 2026 class if they can. Advertisement Related: How to Watch LSU Baseball Try to Keep Its Season Alive Against Little Rock Related: Livvy Dunne in Frightening Video says 'I Fear That I'm Being Stalked and I Don't Know What to Do' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Brian O'Connor, who led Virginia to 7 CWS and 2015 national title, takes over at Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Brian O'Connor, who led Virginia to seven College World Series appearances and a national championship, is leaving the Cavaliers to take over at Mississippi State. MSU announced O'Connor's hiring after the Bulldogs' season-ending 5-2 loss to Florida State on Sunday in the NCAA Tournament. The 54-year-old O'Connor won 917 games over 22 seasons at Virginia and was national coach of the year three times and Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the five times. Under O'Connor, the Cavaliers played in 18 NCAA regionals and nine super regionals, and his 2015 team won the national championship. He had 102 players selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft, including 31 who reached the big leagues. 'Mississippi State represents everything I love about college baseball — tradition, passion and a relentless pursuit of excellence,' O'Connor said. 'I've coached against this program and followed it closely for years. The atmosphere at Dudy Noble Field is nationally recognized as the best in the sport. I'm incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead a program with this kind of legacy and fan base.' Mississippi State fired seventh-year coach Chris Lemonis on April 28. Lemonis led the Bulldogs to the 2021 national championship but they mostly have struggled since. Justin Parker took over as interim coach and the Bulldogs closed with wins in 11 of their last 15 games and reached the Tallahassee Regional final. They finished 36-23. Athletic director Zac Selmon said MSU's hiring of O'Connor represents a 'powerful step forward.' Virginia had five seasons with 50 wins and 13 seasons with at least 40, and his .702 career winning percentage ranks second among active Division I coaches. O'Connor's team went 32-18 this season and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. 'Brian O'Connor is one of the most respected and accomplished coaches in college baseball. He's a national champion, a Hall of Famer, and a proven leader with a track record of building a championship-caliber program,' Selmon said. 'Mississippi State is built to win at the highest level, and Coach O'Connor knows what that takes.' ___ AP college sports:
