Mississippi
Where Mississippi State football has improved — and has work to do — in transfer portal
STARKVILLE — Coaching changes, whether they be at a powerhouse such as Alabama or a Group of Five program like James Madison, have proven to carry plenty of roster turnover with them. Mississippi State football is no exception, with coach Jeff Lebby looking to revamp a program fresh off snapping a 13-year bowl streak.
In his introductory press conference on Nov. 27, Lebby noted the importance of addressing needs in the transfer portal – including at quarterback with Will Rogers departing after four seasons.
But for the former Oklahoma offensive coordinator, retooling MSU extended beyond his side of the ball. Mississippi State lost key starters on defense, ranging from linebackers Nathaniel Watson and Jett Johnson – who combined for 267 tackles in 2023 – to defensive backs Decamerion Richardson and Shawn Preston Jr.
The Bulldogs, with the nation’s No. 36 transfer class, according to 247Sports, will look much different as a result of the moves.
Here’s how we graded MSU’s portal additions so far, and where we think the Bulldogs can improve in the post-spring portal cycle.
Quarterback: B-
Lebby has never been a head coach, but if he’s earned the benefit of the doubt in one category, it’s quarterback evaluation. If he’s confident Baylor transfer Blake Shapen can be the guy for MSU, and Lebby spoke glowingly of him a month ago, there should be some faith there there.
In 27 games across three seasons with the Bears, Shapen threw for 5,574 yards and 36 touchdowns. He isn’t at the level of other portal choices like Dillon Gabriel or DJ Uiagalelei, but he seems to be a serviceable option alongside Mike Wright, Chris Parson and incoming freshman Michael Van Buren.
Running back: N/A
Despite losing starter Jo’Quavious Marks to Southern Cal, Mississippi State didn’t add any running backs.
The Bulldogs appear to be content with their returning players for now, led by Jeffery Pittman and Keyvone Lee while Seth Davis’ availability remains in question following an injury in the Egg Bowl. Lebby also spoke highly of junior college signee Johnnie Daniels.
Wide receiver: A-
The Bulldogs brought in a pair of receivers in Kevin Coleman and Kelly Akharaiyi – two players who have shown promise at their previous stops.
Akharaiyi’s 1,033 receiving yards ranked 19th in the nation last season, and his 21.52 yards per reception ranked fourth. He also hauled in seven touchdowns with UTEP. Coleman had 26 catches for 362 yards at Louisville last season. While at Jackson State in 2022, he was the SWAC Freshman of the Year.
Tight end: C+
MSU added the Ball brothers, Cam and Justin, to address the hole at tight end. Mississippi State didn’t use the position from 2020-22 during Mike Leach’s tenure, and it struggled to establish consistency at tight end in 2023.
Finding experienced players, with Cam Ball appearing in 10 games for Buffalo last season and Justin Ball starting 12 games while serving as a team captain with Vanderbilt, is a step forward.
Offensive line: B+
Between exhausted eligibility and transfers, MSU lost most of its production along the offensive line the last two months. However, the portal brought promise with four additions.
North Texas transfer Ethan Miner was graded among the top centers last season. Makylan Pounders, a Memphis transfer, was among the top prospects in the 2021 class pursued by MSU and Ole Miss. Jacoby Jackson (Texas Tech) and Marlon Martinez (LSU) have the tangibles to suggest they could be quality options.
Defensive line: D
Mississippi State didn’t stoop below the Power Five level to find players along the defensive line, adding North Carolina’s Kedrick Bingley-Jones, Sulaiman Kpaka from Purdue and Wilky Denaud from Auburn.
However, that trio hasn’t provided much production at the collegiate level yet. For all the successful defensive linemen from MSU now in the NFL, the Bulldogs have struggled to find an instant-impact pass rusher during the portal era.
Linebacker: B
Despite what it’s losing at linebacker, Mississippi State retained starting options while making one portal addition. Stone Blanton, who was previously an MSU baseball commit, is transferring back to his home state after starting 12 games for South Carolina last season.
RECRUITING NEWS: Jeramiah McCloud commits to Mississippi State football, Jeff Lebby’s 2025 recruiting class
Defensive back: D
MSU hasn’t done much so far at corner or safety. The best move may have been convincing safety Corey Ellington, who started in seven of the 12 games he appeared in last season, to take his name out of the transfer portal.
Memphis transfer Tre Wright has been the lone addition at corner. The secondary could be a top priority in the next cycle.
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.
Mississippi
UCLA women's basketball beats Mississippi 76-62 to advance to Elite Eight for first time since 2018
SPOKANE, Wash. — Lauren Betts was so dominant inside that she barely missed, scoring 31 points on 15-of-16 shooting to lead UCLA past Mississippi 76-62 on Friday night and sending the Bruins to the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.
The 6-foot-7 Betts added 10 rebounds and three blocks for the No. 1 overall seed, which will face LSU on Sunday for a chance to advance to the Final Four. The Tigers beat N.C. State 80-73 earlier Friday.
Kiki Rice added 13 points and seven assists and was the only other player in double figures for the Bruins (32-2).
Tameiya Sadler scored 14 points for the fifth-seeded Rebels (22-10), who had reached the Elite Eight five times, but not since 2007.
Betts had a similar line – 30 points and 14 rebounds – in the Bruins’ second-round 84-67 victory over Richmond.
UCLA center Lauren Betts, guard Gabriela Jaquez and their teammates celebrate their win against Mississippi in the NCAA college basketball tournament Sweet 16, March 28, 2025.
AP Photo/Young Kwak
Ole Miss beat Baylor on its home floor to reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in the past three years. In 2023, the Rebels upset Stanford in the second round before falling to Louisville.
Betts’ layup put the Bruins ahead 19-10 in the opening quarter, but Ole Miss closed within 21-19 on KK Deans’ jumper.
Deans’ fast-break layup at the end of the first half got the Rebels within 30-29 at the break.
The Bruins opened the second half with an 8-0 run and went up 45-33 on Londynn Jones’ 3-pointer.
Gabriela Jaquez was all alone on a fast-break layup that put UCLA up 63-46 in the final quarter, and Ole Miss never threatened after that.
UCLA’s only two losses this season came against JuJu Watkins and Southern California before the Bruins got their revenge in the Big Ten Tournament final, beating USC 72-67.
The Trojans will also play in Spokane, facing Kansas State on Saturday. It will be their first full game without Watkins, who tore the ACL in her right knee during the first quarter of a 96-59 second-round victory over Mississippi State.
Big-time Betts
Betts scored 16 of UCLA’s 30 first-half points, the second time this season that she’s scored more than half of the Bruins’ points in a half.
She has 93 blocks this season, averaging nearly three a game, and was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
BATON ROUGE, La. – The start time of the LSU-Mississippi State baseball game Friday night has been delayed by inclement weather.
The game was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT, but rain and lightning in the Baton Rouge area have forced the start time to be moved to later in the evening.
The Tigers are coming off of a Game 1 win on Thursday night with the chance to capture the series victory on Friday night in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field in Game 2.
LSU roared back from a 6-2 deficit Thursday night with a five-run fifth inning, as the Tigers recorded an 8-6 win over Mississippi State in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.
LSU improved to 24-3 overall, 5-2 in the SEC, while Mississippi State dropped to 16-10 overall and 1-6 in conference play.
LSU right-hander Zac Cowan pitched brilliantly over the final 4.0 innings, blanking the Bulldogs on just one hit to earn his third save of the season. Cowan recorded no walks and seven strikeouts while firing 59 pitches.
“I’m proud of the team,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “One of our sayings is ‘there’s no clock in baseball,’ and that was a good thing for tonight, down 6-2. Our guys just stayed with it, and I’m proud of them for that. We had some really good at-bats with some walks there in the middle of the game and really big homers by Danny and Steven.
“We turned it over to Zac, and he just did what he does every time out. The guy is a strike machine, and his fastball, slider and change are elite. He tunnels the ball really well, so every pitch looks the same coming out of his hand. We’re really glad he’s on our team, and you’re not going to find a better person than Zac.”
Now, the new start time has been revealed for Friday night in Baton Rouge.
DATES/TIMES
• Friday, March 28 at 8:15 p.m. CT
STADIUM
• Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field in Baton Rouge, La. (10,718)
RANKINGS
• LSU – No. 5 Baseball America; No. 6 USA Today; No. 8 D1 Baseball
• MSU – unranked
RADIO
• LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates
• Live audio at www.LSUsports.net/live; Live stats at www.LSUstats.com
TV/ONLINE
• Friday and Saturday games will be streamed live on SEC Network +
Friday’s Pitching Matchup:
LSU – Jr. RH Anthony Eyanson (3-0, 4.50 ERA, 32.0 IP, 8 BB, 46 SO)
MSU – Sr. LH Pico Kohn (4-0, 2.52 ERA, 35.2 IP, 7 BB, 53 SO)
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LSU baseball returns to action on Friday night for game two of a three-game set with Mississippi State. LSU kicked the series off with a 8-6 win on Thursday night.
Mississippi State led early in the game, but Tigers’ shortstop Steven Milam put LSU in front with a home run in the fifth inning. LSU tallied five runs that frame. LSU starter Kade Anderson didn’t have his best stuff, but he didn’t let it spiral out of control.
On Friday, Anthony Eyanson gets the start for LSU. Through six games, the transfer is 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA. Eyanson has struck out 46 batters in 32 innings pitched.
With the short week, the Bulldogs saved their ace for Friday night. Pico Kohn will get the ball for Mississippi State. He’s 4-0 with a 2.52 ERA on the year.
Here’s how to watch the LSU baseball vs. Mississippi State game today, including time, TV schedule, and streaming information:
What channel is LSU Baseball vs. Mississippi State on today?
TV Channel: STREAMING ONLY
Livestream: ESPN+ AND SEC Network+
Watch LSU baseball vs. Mississippi State live on ESPN+
LSU baseball vs. Mississippi State will be streaming only on Friday night. Fans will need ESPN+ to watch the game.
LSU baseball vs. Mississippi State time on Friday
- Date: Friday, March 28
- Start time: 6:30 PM CT
The LSU Tigers baseball vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs game starts at 6:30 PM CT from Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
LSU baseball vs. Mississippi State predictions, picks
LSU 9, Mississippi State 7: LSU will give up its fair share of runs and the bullpen will be tested, but the Tigers will score enough to get the win. The Bulldogs have the pitching advantage in this one, but I trust LSU’s veteran bats to get some clutch hits.
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