STARKVILLE, Miss. - Missouri walks into its SEC opener Saturday with the rankings attached and the recent edge in the series, but Mississippi State brings plenty of momentum into Davis Wade Stadium for a 6:45 p.m. kickoff.
No. 19 Mizzou is 3-0, while No.
24 Mississippi State is also unbeaten at 3-0 and already 1-0 in the Southeastern Conference. It’s the last of six ranked matchups in Week 4, and for both teams, the game carries a clear marker: Missouri is chasing its first win over a ranked conference opponent since 2023, while Mississippi State is looking for its first such victory since 2022.
This is only the seventh meeting between the programs, with Missouri holding a 4-2 advantage. The Tigers have also had the upper hand in Starkville, where the teams have split two games.
Saturday makes it three straight years these schools have met, and Missouri has won the last two. The Tigers beat Mississippi State 39-20 in 2024 and followed that with a 49-27 win last year.
In both of those matchups, Missouri entered with the better record; this time, the teams are much more evenly matched.
Mississippi State arrives ranked after a 41-34 road win over South Carolina. Missouri climbed the polls after opening the year at No. 25 and handling Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kansas and Troy.
The Bulldogs’ offense runs through sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor, who has thrown 11 touchdowns and one interception in three games. He has already topped 1,000 all-purpose yards and gives Mississippi State a true dual-threat weapon with deep-ball ability. Taylor has three receivers who have each scored three touchdowns, and Anthony Evans III leads that group with 294 yards this season.
Mississippi State’s defense still has questions after allowing 34 points to South Carolina in Week 3, but it did produce two takeaways and two sacks. Florida State transfer Amaree Williams had 10 tackles and a sack, and Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz called him physical and a "tremendous challenge."
Missouri is trying to stop a seven-game skid against ranked conference opponents and recover from a 27-17 win over Troy that required a second-quarter rally from a 10-0 deficit. The Tigers will want more from the passing game after Austin Simmons posted 108 yards, and they need cleaner work in a secondary that surrendered two deep balls last week. Sophomore standout Daeden Hopkins is another name to watch after his season-best showing against Mississippi State last year.
One of the big factors could be possession. Both teams struggled to hold the ball in Week 3, with Missouri on offense for less than 23 minutes in its win and Mississippi State under 26 minutes in its own game.
It’s also Mississippi State’s second home game of the season, and the crowd will try to set the world record for the most cowbells ringing at once. Davis Wade Stadium is ready for it.
In Other News...
Mizzou Faces An Early SEC Test Fans Already Fear Could Expose Them
Week 4 brings an early measuring-stick Saturday for Missouri, with the Tigers headed to Mississippi State in one of four ranked SEC matchups on a slate that will start sorting contenders from pretenders. The full board also includes Texas at Tennessee, giving the conference a loaded day of high-profile games that should say plenty about where the league hierarchy is headed, even if September still leaves room for plenty of movement.
For Missouri, the trip is less about headlines than it is about proof, because a road game like this tends to reveal whether a teams strengths travel and whether the pressure of SEC play changes the picture. The matchup has already drawn expert predictions and betting angles, but the real tension is simple enough: can the Tigers handle an opponent that gives them an honest test, or will this be the kind of game that leaves fans wondering what the ceiling actually is? [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces A Backfield Concern Right Before Week 4
Injury updates around the SEC already shaped up to be part of the Week 4 conversation on College GameDay, with ESPNs Pete Thamel laying out the status of several backs in the conference. Texas is expected to have Hollywood Smothers dress and try to go through an ankle injury, Ole Miss is bracing for the likely absence of Kewan Lacy because of a shoulder issue, and Floridas Eric Singleton Jr. is still headed toward a game-time call after his own ankle problem.
For Missouri, the attention turns to Ahmad Hardy, who has not practiced yet after surgery, leaving the Tigers to wait on a key piece as they move through the week. The timing matters because Missouri has already ruled him out for Saturdays game at Mississippi State, and the next step is about more than just pain tolerance, it is about whether he can get back on the field with enough ramp-up to be ready when the Tigers need him again. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Heads Into Another SEC Test With A New Lineup Problem
Missouri is heading into another SEC test with more shuffling to do on both sides of the ball. Defensive end Darris Smith was ruled out on the league availability and injury report for the game against Mississippi State, while star running back Ahmad Hardy and backup Malae Fonoti also showed up as out for the Tigers. It is the latest reminder that depth has become part of the week-to-week conversation as Missouri tries to keep its footing in conference play.
Smiths absence is especially notable because he had already been a key piece on the edge before getting hurt against Troy, and Missouri has to account for that loss while trying to steady a defense facing another physical opponent. Hardys status adds a different kind of pressure on the offense, since the Tigers are still waiting on his return timeline, and the backfield picture remains unsettled as Missouri looks for answers going into Saturday. [Read more 🡒]