Mississippi
How a Mississippi State football win or loss vs Florida could impact rest of Bulldogs’ season
STARKVILLE — Expectations were low for coach Jeff Lebby’s first season with Mississippi State football, and after a 1-2 start they feel even lower.
It’s fair to wonder how Mississippi State will do in the SEC after last week’s brutal 41-17 home loss to Toledo. The Bulldogs’ SEC schedule begins this week with Florida coming to Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN).
The Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC) are in the midst of their own disarray, but a Mississippi State win could still ease some of fans’ concerns from the start of the season.
“We’re not going to dwell on the past,” Lebby said. “Our guys understand that we have good football players inside these walls. Having some self-belief and some confidence when things aren’t going right is something that needs to start showing up.”
What a win vs Florida could mean for Mississippi State
It hasn’t been just one glaring weakness for Mississippi State.
Mississippi State hasn’t scored a first-half touchdown in two straight games and there’s also been little resemblance of an effective running game. Defensively, MSU hasn’t been winning up front with new coordinator Coleman Hutzler. Arizona State rushed for 346 yards, and Mississippi State has only one sack in the last two games.
Florida has been bad too though, as coach Billy Napier’s job security appears to be in great danger. He’s just 2-10 away from home since becoming the coach in 2022.
The timing for Mississippi State to play the Gators immediately after Toledo could be a beneficial runway before the true SEC gauntlet begins. After Florida, Mississippi State plays five of the top eight teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll. It has road games at No. 2 Texas, No. 1 Georgia, No. 7 Tennessee and No. 5 Ole Miss. No. 8 Missouri comes to Starkville the week before the Egg Bowl.
That means there’s few realistic opportunities for wins after the Florida game. They all come in a three-game home stretch from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2: Texas A&M, Arkansas and UMass.
What a loss to Florida could mean for Mississippi State
Mississippi State has announced three players have left the team since the start of the season. All of them were expected to be contributors this season.
Running back Jeffery Pittman left in Week 1, defensive lineman Eric Taylor left early last week and offensive lineman Leon Bell was announced as a departure after he didn’t play Saturday. Bell started at right tackle in Week 2 against Arizona State.
No reasons were given for their departures.
MORE: What upset Jeff Lebby the most after watching Mississippi State football’s loss to Toledo
Would a loss deepen the departures from the Mississippi State’s roster?
“It’s hard,” Lebby said of the players’ exits. “You don’t want that. You want guys to have every opportunity imaginable to be able to be a part of something that’s so much bigger than ourselves, bigger than myself, bigger than anybody that sits in this team room every single day.
“I think early on inside a program, people understanding that you’re not going to give on certain things is incredibly important. Our guys that love Mississippi State, that want to play for each other and have great connection and want to be great teammates. We’re going to find ways to reward those guys nonstop inside the program.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Mississippi
D1Baseball rankings: Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Southern Miss surge after big weekends – SuperTalk Mississippi
Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Southern Miss have surged in the rankings after a big weekend on the diamond.
The Bulldogs (30-10, 10-8 SEC) jumped two spots to No. 15 in the latest poll from D1Baseball following a strong bounce back. Brian O’ Connor’s club, after having been on the wrong side of SEC sweeps in back-to-back series, earned a 10-rule win over Samford on Tuesday, then took care of business with a sweep at South Carolina.
Next up for Mississippi State is a midweek home matchup versus Memphis on Tuesday before LSU heads to Dudy Noble Field for Super Bulldog Weekend.
The Rebels (29-12, 10-8 SEC) took the biggest leap in the rankings, making an eight-spot jump to No. 17 despite not budging in the top 25 a week ago after sweeping LSU. Once Mike Bianco’s club took the first two games at Tennessee in the most recent series, D1Baseball co-owner Kendall Rogers made note that Ole Miss fans could expect to see their team catapult in his outlet’s poll. Come Monday, though the red and blue lost the series finale, D1Baseball stuck to its word.
“What a weekend so far for [Ole Miss baseball]. Cade Townsend carried a no hitter into the sixth in an 8-1 win over Tennessee to take the series,” Rogers wrote on X. “Rebs are on a heater. Safe to say they’ll be much higher than 25 on Monday.”
Next up for the red-hot Rebels is a home midweek outing versus Murray State, the team that knocked the Rebels out of the postseason last year, before No. 5 Georgia travels to Swayze Field for Double Decker weekend.
The Golden Eagles (28-12, 11-7 Sun Belt) made a four-spot jump to No. 18 after securing a much needed conference sweep to keep hopes of hosting an NCAA Tournament regional alive. Christian Ostrander’s club defended home turf over the weekend, taking all three games from a solid Texas State club.
Next up for the black and gold is a Tuesday midweek battle versus former conference foe Tulane, before making an hour and a half drive to South Alabama for the weekend.
The full top 25 can be found below:
- UCLA
- North Carolina
- Georgia Tech
- Texas
- Georgia
- Oregon State
- Texas A&M
- Florida State
- Coastal Carolina
- Virginia
- Auburn
- West Virginia
- Alabama
- Oklahoma
- Mississippi State
- Kansas
- Ole Miss
- Southern Miss
- Oregon
- Nebraska
- Florida
- Boston College
- USC
- Arkansas
- Arizona State
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 19, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
01-07-11-30-34
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 7-4-6, FB: 5
Evening: 3-3-0, FB: 8
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 3-4-8-9, FB: 5
Evening: 6-2-0-4, FB: 8
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 10
Evening: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Mississippi College baseball has won the series against West Florida for the first time ever
The Choctaws have been playing UWF since 2015
MC won the first two games and put on a bit of a comeback in game 3
Next: GSC at Delta St., then Conference Tournament
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