Mississippi
Texas football: 5 things for Longhorn fans to know about the Mississippi State Bulldogs
Alex Okafor, Colt McCoy on Texas Athletics Hall of Honor induction
The two expressed gratitude for the honor.
Nearly 109 years ago, the Texas football team played Rice in its first Southwest Conference game. And 28 years ago, Texas met Missouri for its first Big 12 battle.
On Saturday, No. 2 Texas (4-0) will play its first conference contest in the Southeastern Conference. That debut will come against Mississippi State in an SEC Network-televised game that will kick off at 3:15 p.m. at Royal-Memorial Stadium.
Here are five things to know about Mississippi State (1-3, 0-1):
No. 2 Texas beats up ULM but still feels it is an ‘unfinished product’
1. Mississippi State will break in a new quarterback
Mississippi State has announced that starting quarterback Blake Shapen’s season is over after he suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s 45-28 loss to Florida. Shapen, who spent four years at Baylor before transferring to Mississippi State last offseason, had thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns against just one interception in 2024.
True freshman Michael Van Buren Jr., a former four-star recruit out of Baltimore, relieved Shapen on Saturday. Junior Jake Weir and redshirt freshman Chris Parson are the other two quarterbacks on the roster. Weir has yet to appear in a game while Parson has attempted 28 passes in his career.
2. Newcomers leading the Mississippi State offense
There were 89 slots available on the SEC’s preseason honors team, but Mississippi State filled none of them. So who’s the Bulldogs’ top talent? Through four games, Johnnie Daniels leads the team with 158 rushing yards. With 22 receptions, 287 receiving yards and three touchdown catches, Kevin Coleman Jr. has emerged as the top receiving target.
Daniels and Coleman are both new to the Bulldogs. Coleman was a starter at Louisville last season and played at Jackson State in 2022. Daniels transferred in from Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
GOLDEN: Why Texas football is SEC ready after epic nonconference showing
3. Some Mississippi State coaches have a rivalry with Texas
Texas and Mississippi State haven’t played each other since the 1999 Cotton Bowl, but a few Bulldogs coaches know a thing or two about the Longhorns.
New MSU head coach Jeff Lebby worked the last two years as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, and he was an assistant at Baylor from 2012 to 2016. Jon Cooper, who coaches the Bulldogs’ tight ends, was the Big 12 offensive lineman of the year while playing at Oklahoma in 2008. And defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler was Texas’ co-defensive coordinator in 2020.
4. Mississippi State hasn’t won big in the SEC
Unlike Texas, Mississippi State is hardly an SEC newcomer. The school was among the 13 charter members that founded the league in 1932. Still, despite being in the conference for more than 90 years, Mississippi State has won only one SEC championship — back in 1941. That team went 4-0-1 in conference play.
After a 1-7 SEC record last year, Mississippi State was picked to finish 15th among 16 teams in the conference’s preseason poll.
5. Why is Mississippi State nicknamed the Bulldogs?
Over the years, Mississippi State has answered to other nicknames, such as the Aggies and Maroons. According to the university, the Bulldog nickname was officially adopted in 1961, but that moniker had been interchangeable with the school’s other nicknames since 1905.
There are two Bulldogs in the SEC. And just like Georgia, Mississippi State has a live mascot. Mississippi State’s bulldog goes by “Dak” although its formal name is Bully XXII. And yes, Dak is named after Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback and former Mississippi State star.
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Mississippi
1 dead after 2-vehicle collision on Mississippi 42 in Lamar County
From Mississippi Highway Patrol Public Affairs Office
LAMAR COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) – A woman died from injuries suffered in a two-vehicle collision Friday afternoon on a stretch of Mississippi 42 in Lamar County.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol said a 2004 Toyota Sienna driven by 32-year-old Alaina R. McLeod, of Bassfield, was traveling east on Mississippi 42 when it collided with a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado driven by 36-year-old Harold Guilbeau, of Sumrall.
The accident took place about 2:30 p.m. Friday, MHP said.
MHP said McLeod was declared at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation by MHP.
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Copyright 2024 WDAM. All rights reserved.
Mississippi
Ole Miss Women’s Basketball Takes Care of Mississippi Valley State in Oxford
No. 25 Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball won its third straight game on Saturday as it took down an in-state foe in the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes by a final score of 78-44.
Ole Miss (8-3) was led in scoring by guard Sira Thienou with 18 points, and she was one of five players who hit double digits on Saturday. Madison Scott (13), Star Jacobs (13), Kennedy Todd-Williams (12) and Kharyssa Richardson (12) were the others to hit that pinnacle.
As a team, the Rebels shot 43.9 percent from the field and 25 percent from three compared to percentages of 34 and 28.6 from MVSU. Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin spoke with the media after the game about the difficulties of preparing a team for some of these non-conference games around the Christmas season.
“These games are very hard because it’s not like one of those games where it’s a conference game or something where the players are very educated on their opponent,” McPhee-McCuin said. “You just ask them to be mature and work things through. I thought in the third and fourth quarter, we were able to establish that and pull away by me shortening the bench a little bit.”
Ole Miss only led by 12 points at halftime, and since expectations have changed around the program, impressive wins matter. The Rebels then proceeded to outscore MVSU 42-20 to secure a convincing result, and McPhee-McCuin was impressed with some of her veteran leadership in the locker room at halftime.
“I thought that Maddie (Scott) and Kennedy (Todd-Williams) leadership today was incredible in the locker room,” McPhee-McCuin said. “I didn’t have to say a word. They did a lot of the talking. Because the NET still matters and how it looks still matters for us.
“We’re no longer trying to get into the tournament. If we’re not in the tournament, I’ll be shocked. For us, it’s not about getting into the tournament. It’s about seeding. We have to fight that because we’re not the ‘sexy’ team. Everything we get, we’re going to have to earn. They knew that, and they were talking to the team about that, and that’s why we were able to create some separation.”
The Rebels are off until they play host to Alcorn State on Dec. 30. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT at the SJB Pavilion.
Mississippi
Mississippi State basketball vs Memphis score today: Live updates, game highlights, how to watch
MEMPHIS — Mississippi State basketball has a big opportunity to strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume today.
The Bulldogs (10-1) are playing Memphis (9-2) and coach Penny Hardaway at FedExForum on Saturday (11:30 a.m., CBS). Both teams are ranked in the USA Today Coaches Poll. The Bulldogs are at No. 25 and the Tigers are ranked No. 22.
Memphis has played four teams that are currently ranked. Guard PJ Haggerty averages 22.4 points per game, the seventh best in the country.
Follow along here for live score updates.
Watch Mississippi State vs Memphis live on Paramount+ (subscribe here)
Mississippi State vs Memphis score updates
This section will be updated when the game begins.
What time does Mississippi State vs Memphis play today?
What channel is Mississippi State vs Memphis on today?
- TV channel: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+ (subscribe here)
- Radio: Mississippi State radio network 96.1 FM
Mississippi State vs Memphis will be broadcast on CBS with streaming available on Paramount+.
Mississippi State vs Memphis live stream options
Mississippi State basketball vs. Memphis will be broadcast on CBS. Steaming is available via Paramount+.
Mississippi State vs Memphis predictions
Memphis 80, Mississippi State 77: This is arguably the toughest opponent Mississippi State has faced this season. Memphis has played a tough schedule consisting of Missouri, UConn, Michigan State, Auburn, Clemson and Virginia, plus North Carolina and Alabama in exhibitions. The Tigers have three great guards in Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter and Colby Rogers, who all shoot over 38% from 3. MSU has struggled to guard 3-pointers and falls in a close game.
Mississippi State vs Memphis betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
- Spread: Memphis -1.5
- Over/under: 151.5
- Moneyline: Memphis (-110), Mississippi State (-110)
Mississippi State vs Memphis injury updates
Mississippi State guard Kanye Clary remains out indefinitely with a lower leg injury. Starting forward Cameron Matthews has also been playing through a foot injury.
Mississippi State basketball schedule 2024-25
Record: 10-1
Next five games on the Mississippi State schedule:
- Dec. 21: at Memphis
- Dec. 30: vs. Bethune-Cookman
- Jan. 4: vs. South Carolina
- Jan. 7: at Vanderbilt
- Jan. 14: at Auburn
Buy Mississippi State basketball tickets this season via Stubub
Memphis basketball schedule 2024-25
Record: 9-2
Next five games on the Tigers’ schedule:
- Dec. 21: vs. Mississippi State
- Dec. 28: vs. Ole Miss
- Jan. 2: at Florida Atlantic
- Jan. 5: vs. North Texas
- Jan. 11: vs. East Carolina
Mississippi State basketball news
- Michael Nwoko tied his career high with 18 points against Central Michigan.
- Jans did not have an updated on injured guard Kanye Clary on Thursday. Clary hasn’t played since Nov. 29.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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