Arizona State Outlasts Mississippi State in a Starkville Showdown
What a night it was in Starkville, Mississippi, where the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Mississippi State Bulldogs went head-to-head in a battle that came right down to the wire. Fans in Davis Wade Stadium were treated to a classic college football contest, and it was Arizona State that managed to walk away with a hard-fought 20–17 victory.
The game began with Mississippi State taking early control. Quarterback Blake Shapen, returning to full action after last year’s injury, wasted no time in making his presence felt. He connected with Antonio Evans for a 42-yard touchdown in the opening drive, sending the crowd into a frenzy. A field goal later in the quarter stretched the lead, and it looked like the Bulldogs were in rhythm. Shapen, who completed 16 of 29 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns, gave his team the confidence they needed.
But Arizona State wasn’t intimidated. Running backs Raleek Brown and Kaden Udoh began chipping away at Mississippi State’s defensive front. Udoh, in particular, kept grinding through tough runs, finishing with 105 rushing yards and a touchdown. Brown added 110 yards of his own, creating a powerful one-two punch on the ground. Although quarterback Sam Leavitt struggled in the air—finishing with just 82 passing yards—he made a critical connection when it mattered most, hitting Jordyn Tyson for a touchdown in the third quarter. Tyson ended the night with six catches for 68 yards and that key score.
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The Bulldogs seemed to lose momentum after halftime. Despite their early success, the offense stalled, and Arizona State’s defense started to control the line of scrimmage. Key sacks by defensive lineman C.J. Smith and linebacker Kyle Elliott shifted energy in the Sun Devils’ favor, while Mississippi State’s attempts to reclaim the lead came up short.
The defining moment arrived late in the fourth quarter. With the score tied at 17, Arizona State embarked on a grueling 17-play, 105-yard drive that ate up nearly nine minutes of clock. Every yard was fought for, with Brown breaking free for a 26-yard burst and Udoh pounding the ball to the goal line. Mississippi State’s defense dug in and forced a fourth down, but kicker Jacob Gomez nailed an 18-yard field goal to give Arizona State the edge with less than two minutes left.
The Bulldogs had one final chance, but the Sun Devils’ defense held strong, closing out the game and sealing the win.
For Arizona State, it was a statement victory on the road against an SEC opponent, their second straight year defeating Mississippi State. For the Bulldogs, it was a bitter loss after starting so brightly, but Shapen’s return remains a positive sign for their season ahead.
It wasn’t just a game—it was a test of toughness, strategy, and resilience, and Arizona State proved once again that they can rise to the occasion under pressure.
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