Mississippi
Mississippi State football spring game: Top three things to watch
STARKVILLE — More college football teams are opting out of hosting traditional spring games, but Mississippi State isn’t.
“Our guys need to play,” second-year coach Jeff Lebby said at the start of MSU’s spring practices. “We’ve got such a new roster and different roster. There’s been so much turnover. Our guys need to be in competitive situations and go play and be put in positions to make the play or guys not make the play. We need to be able to evaluate that for 15 true practices. The more game-type situations I think we can be in, the better for us.”
Kickoff is scheduled for noon on April 19 at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs haven’t announced the exact format for the game, but it won’t be televised.
Here are three things fans can track as Mississippi State strives to improve from its 2-10 record.
Would it be good if Mississippi State’s defense dominates the offense?
The Bulldogs fielded the worst defense in the SEC last season. And it wasn’t particularly close. They allowed 34.1 points per game, nearly 10 points more than the next-worst team.
The entire defensive coaching staff was retained, including coordinator Coleman Hutzler. Vincent Dancy was hired as the defensive ends and outside linebackers coach, while Mike MacIntyre and Paul Rhoads were hired as senior defensive analysts. But for the most part, MSU is relying on new defensive players to be the fix.
The defensive line has been a focal point after Mississippi State managed only 10 sacks last season, the second fewest in the country.
So if Mississippi State’s defense dominates the offense in the spring game, would that be a bad thing?
Lebby probably deserves the benefit of the doubt based on how his offenses have performed, especially in his time as an assistant coach before Mississippi State. The MSU offense was still productive last season after starting quarterback Blake Shapen’s season-ending injury in Week 4. Shapen is back, and there aren’t as many concerns with this season’s offense.
A strong showing by the defense could be the indicator of an improved team.
What is Mississippi State’s depth chart at running back?
Mississippi State’s running backs appear to be a strength of the team.
Leading rusher Davon Booth is back and so is second-leading rusher Johnnie Daniels. MSU also added South Alabama transfer Fluff Bothwell, who was an All-Sun Belt second team selection as a freshman last season. Seth Davis is returning after missing all of 2024 with an injury, and MSU also has underclassmen Xavier Gayten and Kolin Wilson.
That’s a lot of talent for only one football. Booth, Daniels and Bothwell are likely the frontrunners to share carries, but there should be a clearer picture in the spring game.
Will Mississippi State football lose players to transfer portal before spring game?
Tennessee’s spring game was filled with drama after quarterback Nico Iamaleava didn’t show up to practice the day before because of an NIL dispute. Iamaleava is no longer at Tennessee.
The timing of the spring transfer portal makes it tricky. The spring transfer window is already open, meaning players can leave their teams before spring practices end. It’s a big reason why many teams have scaled back their spring games or aren’t televising them at all.
Saturday’s MSU spring game can be an attendance of sorts for who has and hasn’t entered the transfer portal.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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 Nov. 8, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
01-10-23-24-34
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
Midday: 9-2-8, FB: 1
Evening: 8-7-2, FB: 3
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
Midday: 0-5-2-8, FB: 1
Evening: 9-4-5-1, FB: 3
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Nov. 8 drawing
Midday: 13
Evening: 13
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
Why do Mississippi State fans ring cowbells at football games? Bulldogs tradition explained
The cowbell is synonymous with Mississippi State athletics.
Walk into Davis Wade Stadium for a football game on a fall Saturday, and you’ll see almost every fan with a cowbell in hand. They ring them all game long, creating a unique (and loud) atmosphere in college football.
Why do Mississippi State fans ring cowbells? Here’s what to know ahead of the Week 11 game against No. 5 Georgia.
Why do Mississippi State fans ring cowbells?
According to Mississippi State, cowbells began appearing gradually at sporting events in the 1930s and 1940s.
The legend says that a jersey cow once wandered on to the field during a football game in the Egg Bowl between Mississippi State and Ole Miss. MSU won the game, and fans saw the cow as good luck. Students began to bring cows to the games, but that tradition was discontinued and replaced with cowbells.
Why are Mississippi State fans allowed to ring cowbells?
The SEC banned artificial noisemakers in 1974, including cowbells. A compromise was struck in 2010 where Mississippi State could bring the cowbells back for a one-year trial as long as they adhered to certain rules, like not ringing while the ball was in play.
Mississippi State fans have been able to ring cowbells ever since.
When are Mississippi State fans allowed to use cowbells?
MSU fans are allowed to ring the cowbells until the center puts a hand on the football in formation.
The university has made an effort to make sure fans follow the rules with the cowbells. There are signs and messages on the videoboard that either say “ring responsibly” or “rest your bell” to let fans know when they must stop ringing the cowbell.
What Georgia’s Kirby Smart said about Mississippi State’s cowbells
Georgia last played in Starkville in 2022 and won 45-19. Before that, Georgia hadn’t played at Mississippi State since 2010. MSU won that game 24-12, its only win against Georgia in the past 15 games dating to 1974.
“Noise is noise,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “It’s hard to play in the SEC on the road. I have not been to an SEC venue that it was not hard to play into on the road. It’s just hard. That’s not going to change with them. They’ve got a really vertical stadium. I think the noise gets trapped in their stadium.
“It’s one of the loudest places I’ve coached, and I’ve coached there a lot. They’ve got a lot of pride in how they play and how their team plays and the support of their team.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
OXFORD, Miss. (WJTV) – A Virginia man was arrested for online threats against a pharmacy in Oxford, Mississippi, according to police.
Police said they received a call from the pharmacy’s security team on September 30, 2025, in regards to terroristic threats posted on X from an anonymous user about the business.
After an investigation, Oxford police identified the account user as Wade Lucas Casstevens, 21, of Arlington, Virginia. They said Casstevens posted multiple threats on X over the course of multiple days using an anonymous account.
Casstevens was arrested on November 5, 2025, and charged with making terrorist threats.
Montana State men’s basketball team falls 75-73 to Denver
Is Emmett Johnson’s Career at Nebraska Nearing an End?
Search underway for missing 71-year-old woman after car found overturned
NH's Business: Univ. of New Hampshire's five-year strategic plan to deal with ongoing challenges
Police investigate car collision, shooting in Orange, New Jersey
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Small Earthquakes Strike San Francisco Bay Area
Final hurdles cleared to deport Abrego Garcia to Liberia, Trump admin says
US government shutdown enters 40th day: How is it affecting Americans?
Judge says Education Dept. partisan out-of-office emails violated First Amendment
Newsom tells Texas crowd taking back House is ‘the whole thing’ for Democrats in 2026
-
Austin, TX4 days agoHalf-naked woman was allegedly tortured and chained in Texas backyard for months by five ‘friends’ who didn’t ‘like her anymore’
-
Seattle, WA1 week agoESPN scoop adds another intriguing name to Seahawks chatter before NFL trade deadline
-
Southwest2 days agoTexas launches effort to install TPUSA in every high school and college
-
Business1 week agoCommentary: Meme stocks are still with us, offering new temptations for novice and unwary investors
-
World4 days agoIsrael’s focus on political drama rather than Palestinian rape victim
-
Southwest5 days agoArmy veteran-turned-MAGA rising star jumps into fiery GOP Senate primary as polls tighten
-
Lifestyle1 week agoDuane Roberts, Inventor of the Frozen Burrito, Dead at 88
-
Louisiana1 day agoLouisiana high school football final scores, results — November 7, 2025