Mississippi
FAMU football’s 23-home game winning streak snapped by winless Mississippi Valley State | recap
WATCH: FAMU coach James Colzie sends condolences to MVSU, previews game
James Colzie III is the head football coach for the Florida A&M Rattlers.
This story will be updated.
Florida A&M football hosts Mississippi Valley State for a Week 12 Southwestern Athletic Conference game at Bragg Memorial Stadium. Keep scrolling for updates, and refresh the page for the latest information.
The Rattlers (5-4, 3-2 in SWAC), fresh off a 31-12 loss at Prairie View A&M, look to return to the win column. Additionally, FAMU aims to extend its second-longest home winning streak in the Football Championship Subdivision to 24 games.
MVSU (0-10, 0-6 in SWAC) is still searching for its first win after faltering at Jackson State 51-14 last Saturday. Today is the Rattlers’ third-to-last game with matchups versus Bethune-Cookman (Nov. 23) and Alabama A&M (Nov. 29). FAMU likely won’t be granted postseason play with two SWAC losses.
FAMU vs Mississippi Valley State score updates
FAMU football highlights vs MVSU
FAMUs winning streak at Bragg Memorial Stadium has snapped, and it handed Mississippi Valley State its first win of the season.
It is also the first time in program history that the Delta Devils have beaten the Rattlers. The Rattlers had a lot of momentum in the second half after shutting MSVU out and scoring 11 unanswered points.
A wasted timeout and a fumble loss on the snap cost the Rattlers. The Rattlers fall to 5-5 for the first time since 2018. Daniel Richardson completed 18 for 24 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown.
The FAMU Rattlers have shown life.
A tunnel screen pass to Jamari Gossett led to the first touchdown score in the second half, cutting MSVU’s lead to three points as the Rattlers trail 24-21 with 7:14 left in the fourth quarter.
FAMU has scored 11 unanswered points. The defense has shut down the Delta Devils’ offense the entire second half.
FAMU has been playing better, especially defensively, as they kept the MSVU scoreless in the third quarter.
However, the Rattlers are still behind 24-13 entering the fourth quarter. The Seminoles need a spark on offense to make it at least a one-possession game.
FAMU’s kicker Cameron Gillis nails a 45-yard field goal for the Rattlers to add more points on the board.
However, the Rattlers are still trailing by two scores, 24-13 with nine minutes left to play in the third quarter.
This could be the worst FAMU has looked in the first half as it trails 24-10 at halftime.
It started with poor special teams play and miscues, which led Mississippi Valley State to capitalize on the Rattlers. The Delta Blue Devils scored two touchdowns after a FAMU turnover.
FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson has completed 8 of his 10 passes for 116 yards and was sacked twice. FAMU has been running the ball effectively led by Bo Sommersett as he rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown.
MSVU’s quarterback, La’Jarian Williams, has completed 13 of his 17 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
Nathan Rembert has been Williams’ primary target as he recorded 113 receiving yards on six catches.
MSVU decided to take a shot downfield. QB Ty’Jarian Williams threw a deep-ball 60-yard pass to Nathan Rembert for a touchdown.
FAMU trails big 21-10 with under six minutes left to play in the second quarter. The Rattlers allowed two touchdowns after a turnover.
FAMU’s offense was about to respond after running back Bo Sommersett’s 51-yard run that put the Rattlers inside the one.
Sommersett would cough the ball up on the next play and the Delt Devils recovered the fumble.
It was a no-score for the Rattlers, leaving another missed opportunity to put up points. The Delta Devils got the ball back and still up 14-10 with 7:08 left to play in the second quarter.
Special teams miscues continue to hurt the Rattlers, and the winless Delta Devils are taking advantage of it.
After Gregory Martin returned a 71-yard kickoff, MSVU’s quarterback Ty’Jarian Williams connected with Cameron Nelson on a four-yard slant.
The Delta Devils captured their first lead of the day, 14-10, with 10:48 left in the second quarter.
FAMU kicker Cameron Gillis redeemed himself with a 45-yard field goal for fAMU to regain the lead, 10-7, at the start of the second quarter
Daniel Richardson has been efficient so far for the Rattlers, as he completed all seven passes for 106 yards.
Special teams error became an issue for FAMU.
A muffed punt set up a rushing touchdown for Mississippi Valley State, and the Rattlers’ kicker, Cameron Gillis, missed a 36-yard field goal to regain the lead.
Special teams continue to be a problem for the Rattlers early. After going three and out, Cameron Gillis missed a 36-yard field goal. It remains 7-7 with 3:08 left in the first quarter.
Mississippi Valley even the score with a two-yard rushing touchdown by running back Jakobe Thomas.
MSVU scored following a fumble by punter Gunnar Trout, putting the Delta Devils inside the 20. The game is tied at seven with less than five minutes left to play in the first quarter.
After a three and out from FAMU’s offense, a special teams error went to puter Gunnar Trout. The freshman fumbled on the punt and was recovered by the Delta Devils inside the 20.
Daniel Richardson got the green light and didn’t waste any time. In just three plays, the Rattlers are on the board.
Richardson set up a 44-yard pass to receiver Marquez Bell, which would set up a rushing touchdown by running back Bo Summersett. FAMU takes the first lead 7-0 in the first quarter.
FAMU uniform jersey combination
FAMU is wearing all orange uniforms with white helmets.
FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson is in full uniform and has been doing pregame warmups with the Rattlers.
It is still unclear if he will start against Mississippi Valley State, but he is active for Saturday’s game.
Richardson suffered a concussion in last week’s loss to Praire View A&M. Junior Muratovic is the backup quarterback.
Wide receiver Jamarri Gassett and running back Kelvin Dean Jr are also available to play.
FAMU vs Mississippi Valley State start time today
- Date: Saturday, November 16
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Bragg Memorial Stadium (Tallahassee, Florida)
What channel is FAMU vs Mississippi Valley State game on today?
Florida A&M vs. Mississippi Valley State will broadcast on TheGrio TV in Week 12 of the 2024 college football season. The game will stream exclusively on HBCU Go.
The 2024 Rattlers are led by quarterback Daniel Richardson, a grad student who transferred from Florida Atlantic who is second in the SWAC with 2,030 passing yards and first with 19 touchdowns. FAMU has seven preseason All-SWAC selections: offensive lineman Ashton Grable, defensive backs Kendall Bohler and Deco Wilson and kicker Cameron Gillis on the first team, and running back Kelvin Dean, receiver Jamari Gassett and defensive lineman Allen Smith on the second team.
The 2024 Delta Devils are led by quarterback Ty’Jarian Williams, who has 1,177 yards and seven touchdowns passing while also leading the team with 273 yards and five TDs rushing. Wide receiver Nathan Rembert is second in the SWAC with 801 receiving yards.
FAMU vs Mississippi Valley State history
- Series record: FAMU leads, 6-0
- FAMU’s last win: September 30, 2023 (31-7)
Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU 27, MVSU 10
“FAMU hasn’t lost consecutive conference games since 2018. Nor have the Rattlers lost a home game since 2018. So, expect both to stay the same Saturday. And though the Rattlers are vulnerable right now with vanished postseason hopes and a banged-up roster, they can still defeat the Delta Devils if the execution is there.”
FAMU vs Mississippi Valley State betting odds
As of Friday, there were no game lines or odds from BetMGM.
FAMU vs Mississippi Valley State injury updates
Florida A&M quarterback Daniel Richardson left last week’s game with a concussion. Running back Kelvin Dean Jr. also was injured vs. Prairie View A&M. Wide receiver Jamari Gassett is also battling injuries.
FAMU vs Mississippi Valley State weather updates
Weather.com predicts 72 degrees with sunny skies at kickoff in Tallahassee. Winds are expected to blow out of the northeast at 5 mph. There is a near 0% chance of rain throughout the day.
FAMU football schedule 2024
*- SWAC game
Mississippi Valley State football schedule 2024
- August 31: at Tennessee State (L 41-21)
- September 7: at Lamar (L 28-14)
- September 14: at Murray State (L 59-8)
- September 21: at Nicholls (L 66-0)
- September 28: vs. Alcorn State* (L 42-21)
- October 5: Open
- October 12: at Alabama State* (L 54-17)
- October 19: vs. Bethune-Cookman* (L 20-10)
- October 26: at Arkansas-Pine Bluff* (L 35-21)
- November 2: vs. Prairie View A&M* (L 17-16)
- November 9: at Jackson State* (L 51-14)
- November 16: at Florida A&M*, 1 p.m.
- November 23: vs. Alabama A&M*, 1 p.m.
- Record: 0-10 (0-6 in SWAC)
*- SWAC game
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One series remains in the regular season and Ole Miss and Mississippi State baseball are in similar situations.
Both are locks for the NCAA Tournament but are on the bubble for hosting a regional.
The Tennessean’s latest bracket projections have both the Rebels and Bulldogs as two of the 16 national seeds, but that is not solidified yet.
Finding wins in the final series, and possibly the SEC Tournament too, are necessary. Both teams close the regular season on the road against ranked teams that are also projected to host regionals.
The No. 12 Bulldogs (38-14, 15-12 SEC) play at No. 10 Texas A&M (37-12, 16-10). The No. 19 Rebels (35-18, 14-13) play at No. 16 Alabama (35-17, 16-11). Both series begin May 14 (6 p.m., SEC Network+).
Here’s a look at the different scenarios for Ole Miss and Mississippi State to host NCAA Tournament regionals.
Mississippi State, Ole Miss hosting scenarios for NCAA Tournament
Ole Miss and Mississippi State getting swept could knock them completely out of the hosting conversation, barring a deep run in the SEC Tournament. However, SEC Tournament wins are not always viewed the same as SEC regular-season wins by the selection committee.
Mississippi State is in a slightly better spot than Ole Miss. The Bulldogs’ RPI is at No. 12, one spot ahead of Ole Miss. They are tied for sixth in the SEC standings, while Ole Miss is ninth.
The Bulldogs also went 4-0 against Ole Miss, which could give them the edge if the final hosting seed came down to those two teams.
The Tennessean projects MSU as the No. 12 national seed and the Rebels as the No. 13 seed. D1Baseball and Baseball America also project MSU to host, however they both have Ole Miss as a No. 2 seed.
That could mean Ole Miss needs two wins against Alabama, while MSU may be fine with just one win at Texas A&M. If Ole Miss wins one game at Alabama, it probably would need multiple wins in the SEC Tournament.
Mississippi State winning two games at Texas A&M could keep it in contention for a top eight seed. Ole Miss and Mississippi State sweeping their series obviously would, too.
Getting a top eight seed is advantageous because that means you are guaranteed to host a super regional.
Who Ole Miss, Mississippi State fans should root against
It will help Ole Miss and Mississippi State if teams near them in the projections lose, too. That would be teams like Oregon, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Nebraska, Oregon State and Kansas.
Oregon hosts Southern Cal, Nebraska plays at Minnesota, Kansas plays at BYU, Wake Forest plays at Duke, Oregon State hosts Air Force and West Virgina hosts TCU.
How NCAA Tournament history could be made in Mississippi
If everything falls the right way, there’s a chance Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Southern Miss all host NCAA Tournament regionals. That’s never happened.
The No. 9 Golden Eagles (37-14, 19-8 Sun Belt) are projected by The Tennessean as the No. 10 national seed, just ahead of MSU and Ole Miss.
Southern Miss plays a home series against Georgia Southern (15-37, 7-20) at Pete Taylor Park beginning May 14 (7 p.m., ESPN+).
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
MUNCIE, IN — A Muncie man accused of shooting two local residents was arrested by U.S. marshals on the early morning of Wednesday, May 13, in Jackson, Mississippi.
De Vonte Marquise Williams, 32, is charged with two counts of attempted murder, a Level 1 felony carrying up to 40 years in prison, in the April 26 shootings at a home in the 1600 block of East Second Street.
One victim, a man, was shot in the “shoulder/back area,” according to an affidavit.
The other victim, a woman, had a gunshot wound in her buttocks, the document said.
According to Melissa Criswell, deputy chief for the Muncie Police Department, Williams on Wednesday afternoon was being held in Mississippi, awaiting extradition proceedings.
Criswell said the arrest was the result of a joint effort involving the MPD and other agencies, including the U.S. Marshal’s Service, Indiana State Police and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department.
According to court records, Williams has been convicted of crimes including possession of cocaine, carrying a handgun without a license and leaving the scene of an accident.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
STARKVILLE — Vaida Valincius estimates she used to drive about 60,000 miles per year to watch her two sons, Tomas and Vytas, play baseball.
The Valinicius family is from Lockport, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, but the brothers have played all over the United States.
Vytas and Tomas are three years apart, so they very rarely played on the same team. Vaida did her best to be there, whether it was in California, Arizona, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia or greater Illinois.
“I put down like three cars I think,” Vaida told The Clarion Ledger.
But finally, after years of countless hours in the car to watch her sons play baseball, it all came full circle at Mississippi State.
Vytas, an outfielder and the older brother, and Tomas, a starting pitcher, both transferred to Mississippi State for the 2026 season but from different schools. It was a perfect reunion for Vytas’ final year of eligibility.
The brothers live together in a house and got a dog named Sergei. They get along well but, like typical competitive brothers, still banter over small things. Like who wins in a wrestling battle, or if Vytas batted closer to .500 or .100 against Tomas in fall scrimmages.
And making it even more special is that Vaida has been living with her sons in Starkville this season. She said there was “no question” she would be doing it, and the boys were welcoming.
The No. 12 Bulldogs (38-14, 15-12 SEC) begin a three-game series at No. 10 Texas A&M (37-12, 16-10) starting May 14 (6 p.m., SEC Network+) to conclude the regular season.
Vaida’s drive for home games at Dudy Noble Field has been just a few miles.
“It’s been great,” Vytas said in a joint interview with Tomas. “She cooks, cleans and does stuff for us. It makes our life easier.”
Valincius brothers had unusual path to baseball through immigrant parents
Vaida grew up in Lithuania, which at the time was controlled by the Soviet Union. At 7 years old, she was taken from her parents to train to be an Olympic cyclist until the Soviet Union fell in 1991.
In 1999, she immigrated to the United States.
“I had no English, no money and no friends,” Vaida said.
Vaida eventually settled in Chicago where she met her husband, Jozef Wolyniec, also a Lithuanian immigrant who was a speed skater growing up.
So, they each had athletic backgrounds, but knew nothing about baseball. They mostly spoke Lithuanian at home and learned baseball through the kids. Their introduction to baseball came in strange ways.
One day, 5-year-old Vytas was playing Wiffle ball with the neighbors. Vytas hit a home run, and the neighbor told him to go home.
Vytas didn’t understand what that meant. So instead of running the bases, Vytas ran to his house.
“I’m watching through the window, and my English was not good at the time,” Vaida said. “I go to the neighbor like, ‘What’s the problem? Why are you saying that?’”
Tomas is a left-handed pitcher, and one time Vaida bought him the wrong glove.
“Tomas was like, ‘Mom, I don’t feel right. I don’t feel right throwing the ball,’” Vaida said. “I was like ‘I don’t care. Throw the ball.’ I had no clue that they had gloves for the lefties too.”
Valincius brothers transfer to Mississippi State included missed flight
Tomas and Vytas both played high school baseball at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but not at the same time.
Vytas is on his fourth college team, playing at South Carolina in 2022, John A. Logan Community College in 2023, then Illinois in 2024 and 2025. He was an All-Big Ten second-team selection last season, leading the Illini with a .348 batting average.
Tomas played at Virginia as a freshman in 2025, posting a 4.59 ERA and 6-1 record in 13 appearances and 12 starts to make the All-ACC Freshman Team.
The first domino to get the brothers to Mississippi State fell when MSU coach Chris Lemonis was fired on April 28, 2025.
The Bulldogs hired Virginia’s Brian O’Connor as the new coach on June 1, about one hour after the season ended in the Tallahassee Regional final.
“I think it was quick,” Tomas said. “I didn’t even know it was a possibility that this could happen just because of our age gap and I didn’t really know any of the rules or anything. It kind of all just worked out as it did with Coach O’Connor coming here.”
The transfer portal opened June 2. O’Connor had his public introduction on June 5 at Dudy Noble Field. The brothers and their mom were in attendance but arrived just minutes before it started. They missed a connecting flight in Atlanta because they didn’t realize they were sitting at the wrong gate.
The brothers, their mom, three other players and a parent rented a car and frantically drove from Atlanta to Starkville.
“We rented a car and were like who’s driving?” Vaida said. “Then Tomas goes, ‘Well, if we want to make it, let my mom drive.’ I’m like, ‘OK, boys, we’re not stopping.’”
Tomas and Vytas committed to MSU on June 6, with Vytas receiving an extra year of eligibility.
How Valincius brothers are impacting Mississippi State with their mom
Vaida moved in with the boys in February, not long before opening day.
She helps them around the house and takes care of the dog. She makes sure dinner is ready for them at home after every game. The dog even accompanies her in the car for road games.
“It’s fun to watch them going through this,” Vaida said. “It would be a different story if I was at home and just came for the games. That would be, not an outsider, but I wouldn’t be used to it because I’m always with them. It’s a blessing for sure.”
Tomas has been one of the top starting pitchers in the SEC. He has an 8-2 record and ranks third in the SEC with a 2.52 ERA and second with 105 strikeouts. Tomas didn’t allow an earned run in his first 19 innings of conference play.
“For me, it’s nerve-wracking,” Vytas said about watching Tomas pitch. “I enjoy when he does good, but when there’s like runners on (base) I really stress out a lot for him. I don’t know. It’s my little brother.”
Vytas is batting .371 with two home runs, 16 RBIs and 15 runs in 28 games and 19 starts.
He hit his first home run of the season against Georgia on April 4. Tomas was one of the first players out of the dugout waiting to celebrate with Vytas after he rounded the bases.
“That was the first home run I think I’ve seen him hit since, I don’t know, him playing in high school, which was like sophomore year,” Tomas said. “So that was fun. I was hyped up. I was screaming and yelling.”
Vaida said her favorite moments of the season are whenever Vytas and Tomas are in the lineup together. That’s only happened three times this season.
The most recent one, May 7 against Auburn, was the best though. Tomas pitched 6⅔ innings with three runs allowed on 13 strikeouts and 112 pitches. Vytas hit three singles and drove in a run in a 10-3 MSU win.
Tomas has one more season until he’s eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft, where Baseball America recently ranked him as the No. 3 college prospect.
Vaida said she hasn’t made any decisions yet if she’ll live with Tomas next season.
“As a mom, it’s just been a pleasure to be around them and watch how they grow in every way,” Vaida said.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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