Mississippi
Will Mississippi State upset Texas, Arch Manning, end SEC losing streak? Our prediction
STARKVILLE — Texas was the No. 1 team in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, but this appears to be a much more winnable game now for Mississippi State football.
The Bulldogs (4-3, 0-3 SEC) are taking on the No. 18 Longhorns (5-2, 2-1) at Davis Wade Stadium on Oct. 25 (3:15 p.m., SEC Network).
Texas has struggled offensively in Arch Manning’s first season as the full-time starting quarterback. The Longhorns have losses to Ohio State and Florida, and needed overtime to beat Kentucky.
MSU with second-year coach Jeff Lebby has already doubled its wins from last season and upset then-No. 10 Arizona State, but it’s lost three consecutive games.
Here is our score prediction for the Week 9 game.
Buy Mississippi State vs Texas tickets
Mississippi State vs Texas prediction
Expect another low-scoring game. While the Longhorns ran up the score on UTEP and San Jose State, they haven’t topped 27 points in any of their other five games. Texas is averaging 16.8 points in its four games against power conference opponents.
Mississippi State has been better in its four games against power conference teams, but not by much at 22 points per game.
MSU’s offensive line could be the difference in this matchup. The Bulldogs got starting right tackle Albert Reese IV back from injury against Florida in Week 8, and the unit blocked much better. Texas’ defense has been its strength, allowing just 11.3 points per game.
A win for Mississippi State would end its 15-game SEC losing streak.
Mississippi State vs Texas scouting report
Why Mississippi State has an advantage: The Mississippi State defense has been much better this season and has been competitive in all three SEC games. The pass defense has been a big reason why. MSU is allowing 187.3 passing yards per game, 30th nationally. The Bulldogs’ 10 interceptions are tied for sixth nationally and lead the SEC.
The Bulldogs were in range for a potential game-winning field goal against Florida before quarterback Blake Shapen threw an interception. Leading rusher Fluff Bothwell didn’t play in that game, and his status is uncertain against Texas, but Davon Booth recorded 119 total yards and two touchdowns in his absence.
Why Texas has an advantage: Texas’ defense has been dominant all season. The Longhorns have 21 sacks, tied for fourth in the SEC and 11 more than Mississippi State’s total. Colin Simmons is a star edge rusher with seven sacks. Offenses are averaging only 2.6 yards per carry against the Longhorns, and they’ve surrendered just three passing touchdowns all season.
However, Texas’ leading tackler, safety Michael Taaffe, is out against Mississippi State.
Mississippi State vs Texas injury report
SEC availability report as of Oct. 22:
Mississippi State
- DL Will Whitson: Out
- OL Blake Steen: Out
- OL Brennan Smith: Out
- LB Zakari Tillman: Out for the first half (targeting suspension)
- RB Fluff Bothwell: Questionable
Texas
- WR Aaron Butler: Out
- DB Michael Taaffe: Out
- OL Cole Hutson: Out
- RB CJ Baxter: Probable
- DB Xavier Filsaime: Probable
- LB Jonathan Cunningham: Probable
Mississippi State vs Texas score prediction
Texas 23, Mississippi State 21
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Miss America 2026 pageant coming to West Palm Beach, Florida
The Miss America pageant is coming to Palm Beach County for the next three years. Here’s what we can expect.
On the third and final night of the Miss Mississippi 2026 preliminaries, four competitors walked away Friday, June 12, with awards in the pageant.
Preliminary rounds for the 2026 competition started June 10 and ended June 12. Contestants divided into groups, with each group competing in contests every night at 8 p.m. for the preliminaries.
Anna Leah Jolly was crowned Miss Mississippi in 2025. A new winner will be crowned after the finale, which is set for 8 p.m. Saturday, June 13. The finale will be held at the Vicksburg Convention Center.
The winner of Miss Mississippi 2026 will go on to compete in the Miss America pageant. The Miss America 2027 competition will be held Aug. 28 through Sept. 6, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida, with the crowning of the 99th Miss America on Sept. 6 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
On Friday, preliminary awards were handed out in two categories: fitness and talent. There was a three-way tie in the fitness competition, and one winner was chosen in the talent competition.
Who were the Miss Mississippi 2026 preliminary winners for June 12?
- Fitness: Miss Starkville — Morgan Nelson; Miss Capital City — Jane Granberry; and Miss Barnes Crossing — Jaycee Drew Janzen
- Talent: Miss New South — Kayla Braswell
How to watch the Miss Mississippi 2026 competition
To watch the pageant in-person, tickets cost $50 and are available for purchase through the Miss Mississippi website.
Livestream tickets cost $35 for the finale and are available for purchase at missmisslive.com.
The finale will also air on television at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 13, on the following channels:
- WDAM, Hattiesburg
- WLBT, Jackson
- WLOX, Biloxi
- WMC Bounce, Memphis
- WTVA, Tupelo
- WTOK, Meridian
Who are the judges for Miss Mississippi 2026?
The Miss Mississippi Organization announced the judges for this year’s competition are:
- C.J. Pearson — an American conservative activist from Georgia
- Mistie Knight — a Mississippi native crowned Miss Pontotoc 2002 then later Miss Las Vegas 2006
- Dana Rosengard — a Miss America Organization volunteer since 1991
- Leah Walker — a Georgia native crowned Miss Georgia 2007 then later placed in Top 10 Miss America Pageant
- Debbie Butcher — the executive director of the Miss PA Scholarship Foundation, Inc., based in Pennsylvania
Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.
Tennessee is recruiting toward its 2029 football signing class. The Vols offered a scholarship to 2029 wide receiver Matthew Fletcher.
“Blessed to receive an offer (from) the University of Tennessee,” Fletcher announced.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound wide receiver is from Central Hinds Academy in Raymond, Mississippi. He does not have rankings from 247Sports.
Ole Miss was the first school to offer a scholarship to Fletcher. Other schools to offer him scholarships are Akron, LSU, Mississippi State, Tuskegee, Jacksonville State, Hinds Community College and Jackson State.
Tennessee does not have a commitment for its 2028 and 2029 recruiting class.
The Vols have 13 commitments for their 2027 recruiting class: linebacker JP Peace, offensive tackle Princeton Uwaifo, defensive lineman Kadin Fife, quarterback Derrick Baker, athlete Jaden Butler, wide receiver KeSean Bowman, defensive back Carter Jamison, defensive back Brandon Leavell, tight end Malik Howard, defensive lineman Christian Mays, cornerback Dylan Haley, long snapper Sam McKeown and kicker Ford Fehling.
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