Mississippi
No. 14 LSU visits Mississippi State in SEC West opener matching reigning champ, possible challenger
Things to watch in Week 3 of the Southeastern Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 14 LSU (1-1) visits Mississippi State (2-0) as SEC play begins with three games. The defending West Division champions bounced back from their opening-game loss to Florida State by blowing out FCS team Grambling 72-10. The Bulldogs topped Arizona 31-24 in overtime. MSU has aspirations of challenging in the West after going 9-4 last season. The Tigers lead the series 77-36-3 and won last year’s matchup 31-16 in Baton Rouge.
SECOND-BEST MATCHUP
No. 11 Tennessee (2-0) at Florida (1-1). This September matchup in The Swamp features two teams with differing fortunes and expectations. The Volunteers are projected to finish second in the East Division and perhaps challenge top-ranked Georgia. They broke a five-game series losing streak to the Gators last season and seek their first win in Gainesville since 2003. Florida aims to end a four-game slide that includes the Vols and earn a critical East victory.
Tennessee brings in the nation’s No. 26 offense (477.5 yards per game) against a Florida defense that leads the SEC (191 yards allowed). The Vols’ defense ranks 29th (270) and faces Florida’s 40th-ranked offense (453.0).
LONG SHOT
Mississippi State running back Jo’Quavious Marks (7) is tackled by Arizona safety Dalton Johnson (43) while defensive back Martell Irby (13) and safety Isaiah Taylor (4) close in during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Starkville, Miss. Credit: AP/Rogelio V. Solis
South Carolina (1-1) faces a steep climb between the hedges at No. 1 Georgia, and not just because the Gamecocks enter the nationally televised game on CBS as a 26 1/2-point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Bulldogs (2-0) lead the series 54-19-2 and have won seven of the past eight matchups by an average margin of nearly 26 points. That includes last year’s 48-7 rout at South Carolina that was a shutout until a Gamecocks touchdown with 53 seconds left.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
LSU scored TDs on its first 10 possessions against Grambling. … LSU QB Jayden Daniels (354.0 yards), South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler (342.0) and Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart (339.0) rank eighth, 10th and 11th respectively in FBS total offense. … Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary threw touchdown passes on four consecutive possessions to rally the Wildcats twice against Eastern Kentucky 28-17. Two went to Tayvion Robinson, who finished with six receptions for 136 yards. …. Mississippi State linebacker Jett Johnson had a career-best two interceptions against Arizona, while his 11 tackles marked his eighth career effort with 10-plus stops. … Georgia intercepted three passes while steamrolling Ball State, 45-3.
IMPACT PLAYER
LSU’s Kaleb Jackson (28) runs the ball against Grambling State during an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Credit: AP/Scott Clause
Mississippi State running back Jo’Quavious Marks leads SEC rushers with 250 yards and three touchdowns through two games after his first 100-yard efforts, against Southeastern Louisiana and Arizona. But he has made his mark catching passes out of the backfield, and his next reception will give him 200 and break the school record he currently shares with Fred Ross. That would also place him 12th all-time in the SEC.
Marks has a reception in all 38 games played — fourth most among active FBS players — and is the only running back with a reception in 25 consecutive games. He has 1,149 yards receiving out of the backfield.
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Mississippi
Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo ‘disrespected’ by Mississippi State football’s defensive game plan
![Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo ‘disrespected’ by Mississippi State football’s defensive game plan Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo ‘disrespected’ by Mississippi State football’s defensive game plan](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/09/08/PKNS/75130225007-usatsi-24184754.jpg?auto=webp&crop=4080,2296,x0,y294&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Cam Skattebo slammed Mississippi State on the football field on Saturday night and also took another jab afterward in his postgame press conference.
The Arizona State running back, following a 30-23 Sun Devils win at Mountain America Stadium, took exception to MSU only utilizing three defenders on the line of scrimmage. The results were damning.
Arizona State (2-0) rushed for 346 yards. It was the most allowed by Mississippi State (1-1) in a game since Arkansas in 2016. Skattebo’s 262 rushing yards on 33 carries were the second-most in ASU history.
“They couldn’t stop us in that three-down front,” Skattebo said when asked what made ASU’s run game successful. “Honestly, we all felt disrespected with them in a three-down front. You can’t come in here and put five guys in the box and expect to stop six. I don’t know. We took that a little disrespectful, and we rushed for what over 300 yards? Something around there. It is what it is.”
Skattebo, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound junior, also led Arizona State with 35 receiving yards on three catches.
“I knew these dudes were big and heavy,” he said. “We knew going into the game they weren’t as physical as most other teams but they’re heavy. So when they hit you, it hurts, no matter how hard they’re coming — 300 pounds at 10 miles per hour or 16 miles per hour hurts the same. I just kept my feet moving.”
Mississippi State trailed 30-3 in the third quarter but scored 20 unanswered points to cut the score to 30-23 with 5:27 to play. The Bulldogs never touched the ball again, with the Sun Devils running out the clock on 12 plays.
Skattebo had a game-sealing 39-yard rush that allowed ASU to kneel down.
“Until the end, we had our ups and downs there, but that was fun,” he said. “You can ask these guys up front, bullying dudes, grown men that are 300 pounds, that’s fun to us. That’s fun to the front-five, the front-seven and the running back. The quarterback probably hates it. He probably likes watching, but he didn’t complain one time the whole game.”
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
Why Mississippi State football loss to Arizona State revealed a strong Jeff Lebby culture
![Why Mississippi State football loss to Arizona State revealed a strong Jeff Lebby culture Why Mississippi State football loss to Arizona State revealed a strong Jeff Lebby culture](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/09/08/PKNS/75130223007-usatsi-24184733.jpg?auto=webp&crop=3382,1904,x0,y239&format=pjpg&width=1200)
It was 11:10 p.m. Saturday in Starkville when Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt barreled into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.
At that point, it would’ve been fair for Mississippi State football fans to call it a night. The Bulldogs (1-1) trailed 27-3 at ASU in the final minute of the second quarter. They were dominated in just about every statistical category. New coach Jeff Lebby looked like he was headed toward his first loss, and an embarrassing one.
And even if you gave the second half a chance, eyes just a crack open, that wasn’t encouraging either. Arizona State (2-0) took the opening drive of the third quarter for a field goal while eating 8 minutes, 27 seconds of game time. That just about decided the game before Mississippi State touched the ball in the second half.
Wrong.
Instead, MSU scored touchdowns on three of its next four drives and cut the score to 30-23 with 5:27 to play. The defense, which was torched for 346 rushing yards, needed one more stop to let the offense try to tie it. It would’ve been the largest comeback in program history.
Mississippi State’s path to a bowl game seems murkier than it was a week ago. But in the long-term, there’s still encouragement after the 30-23 loss.
“Our guys battled in an incredible way in the second half, and we’re going to hold on to that,” Lebby said in his postgame radio interview. “We’re going to find ways to get back in the building, get back to work and be able to walk into Davis Wade (Stadium) with a ton of confidence and ready to go win a football game.”
The encouragement from Mississippi State’s comeback effort
Lebby said after beating Eastern Kentucky 56-7 in Week 1 that there is an abundance of teachable moments in wins, just like losses.
There is plenty to point to after losing to Arizona State.
Mississippi State came out incredibly flat. The Sun Devils scored on their first five possessions. The MSU offense had one field goal, two punts, a fumble returned for a touchdown and a turnover-on-downs in the first half. MSU had -13 rushing yards in the first half.
There were concerns entering the game about the travel distance, late kickoff and high temperature. But let’s be real, Mississippi State was playing so poorly at the start that it was hard to judge if those were factors.
“I got to do a better job getting these guys ready to go play out of the gate,” Lebby said. “I thought our energy, our effort and our emotion was really good, but then we did not play clean there in the first quarter, so that part was frustrating.”
The Bulldogs outscored the Sun Devils 20-0 in the final quarter and a half. It was a surprise. Arizona State was rolling. Mississippi State was not.
MORE: Introducing Sam Sklar, the Clarion Ledger’s new Mississippi State beat reporter
For Lebby, a first-time head coach at any level, let it be a learning moment for him. It was his first time getting pinned in a corner. The Bulldogs adjusted correctly in the second half like good coaches do.
The rushing offense and defense both need to improve. Badly. Quarterback Blake Shapen has been impressive in his first two Mississippi State games and the wide receiver room is deep and talented as ever, but they can’t be the only answer.
That’s just for this season.
Mississippi State has its first tally in the loss column. But it isn’t a strike against Lebby leading the future of 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
Arizona State football turns heads with ‘unreal’ uniforms vs Mississippi State
![Arizona State football turns heads with ‘unreal’ uniforms vs Mississippi State Arizona State football turns heads with ‘unreal’ uniforms vs Mississippi State](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2024/09/07/PPHX/75127214007-asuuniformms.png?auto=webp&crop=450,254,x0,y9&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Sam Leavitt leads ASU to convincing victory in 1st career start
Leavitt and the Sun Devils cruised past visiting Wyoming 48-7 on Saturday night at Mountain America Stadium.
The Arizona State football team elevated its play on the field in its 48-7 win over Wyoming in Week 1.
It is elevating its uniform game for Week 2 against Mississippi State.
ASU football is wearing a gold alternate jersey against the Bulldogs at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Saturday night.
The jersey includes maroon “Arizona State” lettering and maroon numbering, along with a noticeable Big 12 logo.
The Sun Devil football team unveiled the uniform last month, with Athletic Director Graham Rossini posting that “you’ll see this on the field early this season.”
On Thursday, ASU football announced that it would be wearing the uniform against Mississippi State with a video that said “Modern shine, with a classic design.”
On Friday, it posted another look at the uniform.
More: Arizona State vs Mississippi State live score updates, analysis for college football game
ASU vs Mississippi State schedule, TV: How to watch college football game
Promising look: Arizona State football’s 2024 win prediction doubles after Week 1 victory over Wyoming
Social media reacted favorably overall to ASU football’s uniform vs Mississippi State:
Do you like the look for ASU football?
ASU vs. Mississippi State picks: Who wins Week 2 college football game?
Looking promising: Arizona State football makes huge leap in college football ranking, Big 12 power rankings
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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