The Mississippi State Bulldogs (0-0) hit the road for their season opener against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (0-0) at M.M. Roberts Stadium on Saturday.
Mississippi State begins year two under head coach Jeff Lebby, who endured a rocky debut campaign in Starkville. The Bulldogs stumbled to a 2-10 finish in 2024, going winless in SEC play and managing only a pair of non-conference wins, Eastern Kentucky (56-7) and UMass (45-20). The low point came in a lopsided 41-17 home defeat to Toledo, highlighting just how far the program needs to climb.
Southern Miss, meanwhile, ushers in a fresh chapter with Charles Huff at the helm. Hired in December after four strong seasons at Marshall, Huff arrives with a winning track record: a 32-20 mark and a Sun Belt championship to his name. The Golden Eagles are banking on his ability to resuscitate a program that bottomed out at 1-11 last year, hampered by one of the nation’s weakest offenses (15.3 points per game) and a defense that leaked 37.8 points per outing.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Southern Miss vs Mississippi State NCAAF game, plus plenty more.
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Southern Miss vs Mississippi State: Date and kick-off time
San Jose State will take on Central Michigan in a highly anticipated NCAAF game on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 10:30 pm ET or 7:30 pm PT at M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
| Date | Saturday, August 30, 2025 |
| kick-off Time | 10:30 pm ET or 7:30 pm PT |
| Venue | M. M. Roberts Stadium |
| Location | Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
How to watch Southern Miss vs Mississippi State on TV & stream live online
- TV channel: ESPN
- Streaming service: Fubo
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Southern Miss vs Mississippi State team news & key players
Southern Miss Golden Eagles team news
Huff didn’t arrive in Hattiesburg empty-handed; nearly two dozen former Marshall players followed him to Southern Miss, including quarterback Braylon Braxton. Braxton is a dual-threat talent who threw for 19 touchdowns against just two interceptions while rushing for 610 yards and four more scores last fall. If receiver Elijah Metcalf can stay healthy, he has the ability to give the offense a legitimate playmaking weapon. Defensively, the Golden Eagles return promising young talent in linebacker Chris Jones, who recorded 46 tackles as a freshman, while defensive linemen Broadarius Lewis (8 TFLs) and Jameer Lewis (5 TFLs) bring muscle up front.
Mississippi State Bulldogs team news
For the Bulldogs, stability at quarterback will be key. Blake Shapen returns after injuries derailed his first season following a transfer from Baylor, and Mississippi State is counting on his experience to spark the offense. The backfield should be in good hands with South Alabama transfer Fluff Bothwell joining returning rusher Davin Booth, the team’s leading ground-gainer in 2024. Up front, Jacoby Jackson anchors the offensive line from his left guard spot, while the rest of the unit continues to gain experience. On defense, veteran safety Isaac Smith provides leadership on the back end of a group still searching for consistency.