If you’re looking at miss state football scores from the 2025 season, you’re probably feeling a mix of "what if" and "here we go again." It was a year of wild swings. We saw a team that could look like world-beaters in September and then struggle to find a rhythm once the SEC grind truly kicked in.
Jeff Lebby’s second year in Starkville didn't exactly end with a trophy, but it wasn't short on drama. Honestly, the 5-8 final record (including the bowl game) tells only half the story.
The Highs, The Lows, and the Egg Bowl Heartbreak
The season started with so much promise. Four straight wins to open the year had Davis Wade Stadium rocking. Scoring 63 against Alcorn State is one thing, but beating a ranked Arizona State team 24-20 gave fans real hope that the "Veo and Shoot" offense was ready for prime time.
Then came the meat of the SEC schedule.
Losing to Tennessee in overtime (34-41) was a gut punch. It felt like the momentum just evaporated after that. While they managed to steal a massive road win at Arkansas (38-35) in November, the end of the season was a tough pill to swallow.
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2025 Mississippi State Game Results
- at Southern Miss: W, 34-17 (A solid, professional road win to start).
- Arizona State: W, 24-20 (The peak of early-season optimism).
- Alcorn State: W, 63-0 (Total dominance).
- Northern Illinois: W, 38-10 (Cruising through non-conference).
- Tennessee: L, 34-41 (The overtime heartbreaker in Starkville).
- at Texas A&M: L, 9-31 (Offense went completely cold in College Station).
- at Florida: L, 21-23 (A missed opportunity in the Swamp).
- Texas: L, 38-45 (Another OT loss against a Top 25 powerhouse).
- at Arkansas: W, 38-35 (The last great moment of the regular season).
- Georgia: L, 21-41 (Ran into a buzzsaw).
- at Missouri: L, 27-49 (Defensive struggles became a major theme).
- Ole Miss (Egg Bowl): L, 19-38 (A rough day against the Rebels).
- Wake Forest (Duke's Mayo Bowl): L, 29-43 (A disappointing finish in Charlotte).
The Egg Bowl was particularly stinging. Lane Kiffin’s Rebels came into Starkville and put up 546 yards of offense. Even with freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor putting up a heroic 351 total yards (173 of those on the ground!), the Bulldogs just couldn't get a stop when it mattered.
Who Stepped Up in 2025?
Blake Shapen did the heavy lifting for most of the year. He finished the season with 2,433 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. That puts him in some pretty elite company in the MSU record books, sitting right around the same statistical neighborhood as guys like Nick Fitzgerald and Dave Marler.
But keep an eye on Kamario Taylor.
When Shapen was out, Taylor showed he’s a legit dual-threat nightmare. His performance in the Egg Bowl—178 passing yards and 173 rushing yards—was one of the few bright spots in a tough November.
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On the outside, Brenen Thompson was the reliable deep threat. Whether it was a quick screen or a 40-yard bomb, he was usually the one moving the chains. Defensively, though, things were shakier. Allowing over 500 yards of offense in multiple games is a recipe for a losing record in the SEC, plain and simple.
The Reality of the SEC Standings
Mississippi State finished near the bottom of the pack at 1-7 in conference play. It’s a tough neighborhood. With Georgia, Alabama, and Ole Miss all winning 11 or more games, the gap between the top and the middle of the SEC felt wider than ever this year.
The Bulldogs' only conference win came against Arkansas, who finished winless in the SEC (0-8). It’s a reality check for the program. The offense has the tools, but the defense has to find its identity under Coleman Hutzler if they want to flip those close scores into wins in 2026.
What to Do With This Info
If you’re tracking the Bulldogs or looking at future matchups, here is how to process the 2025 data:
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- Focus on the Home/Away splits: State was 3-4 at home but struggled significantly on the road (2-3) and in neutral sites.
- Watch the Freshman development: Kamario Taylor is the future. His rushing ability changes how teams have to defend the Bulldogs.
- Keep an eye on the portal: The defense needs immediate help, specifically in the secondary, after giving up massive yardage to Ole Miss and Missouri.
Mississippi State isn't as far off as the 5-8 record looks. Two overtime losses and a two-point loss to Florida are the difference between a losing season and an eight-win year. Small margins, big consequences.
If you want to dive deeper into individual player stats or see the full 2026 recruiting class rankings, you can head over to the official Hail State athletics site or check the latest SEC internal scouting reports.
Next Steps:
Go to the official Hail State website to check the final 2025 defensive participation charts to see which young players earned the most snaps heading into the 2026 spring practice.