Instant Reaction: Fans can start party as Mississippi State closes upset win

Bulldogs built a 17-0 lead just before halftime and didn't trail until the very end, but huge play at end starts Starkville celebration

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) runs the ball as Mississippi State Bulldogs linebacker Zakari Tillman (7) makes the tackle during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.\ | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

STARKVILLE, Miss. — What started off as the beginning of an epic party in Starkville nearly ended in heartbreaking disappointment.

Fans can go ahead and start the party.

And then Brenen Thompson beat his defender for the second time in the game, for a second touchdown and gave Mississippi State a 24-20 lead with 30 seconds left in the game.

It held up on a Hunter Washington interception to seal the win.

Mississippi State was the dominant team for most of the first half and led 17-0 at one point. Potential Heisman trophy candidate Sam Leavitt only had a couple completions, less than 75 yards passing and an interception.

The defense had two sacks, multiple tackles for a loss and All-American Jordan Tyson was nearly non-existent.

But maybe nothing was ever going to stop Mississippi State from winning the game with one of the loudest crowds some longtime Bulldog fans have ever been a part of.

DAVIS WADE STADIUM 🔥#HailState pic.twitter.com/XXv2jrUD8L

— Mississippi State Athletics (@HailState) September 7, 2025

In the first half, Mississippi State showed what we wanted to see. Little to no mistakes, no turnovers, no penalties (until late in the half), the defense stuffed the run and Leavitt had to scramble a lot. 

Of course, the fans inside Davis Wade Stadium did their job. At least two of the Sun Devils’ first half penalties were due to the crowd noise and cowbells. 

But some of the struggles from last week reappeared. 

The offense lost a chance at three points at the end of the first half because of a holding penalty and a sack. Back-to-back punts were shanks.

Running backs were having to dodge defenders in the backfield and with less than two minutes in the game, the Bulldogs had 12 players on the field that forced Jeff Lebby to burn his second timeout.

Could NCAA’s proposed transfer portal change backfire and create a bigger mess?

The second half didn’t start off much better than the way the first half ended. Arizona State ran eight plays, all of which were runs or scrambles, and drove the down the field with ease, cutting the Bulldogs’ lead to seven points.

The Sun Devils dusted off last year's game plan and ran the ball with a lot of success. The injury to Will Whitson, who didn't play in the second half, was a major loss. He had a sack and two tackles for a loss before leaving the game with an injury.

Also, Jaray Bledsoe had to be helped off the field in the fourth quarter. That's two of Mississippi State's best performing defensive linemen that will now be major question marks.

Getting it done on fourth down 🫡

📺ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/FxPsuI1YRR

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 7, 2025

It was failrly shocking to watch how easily Arizona State was able to run the ball at times. The Sun Devils didn't throw the ball much (the game-tying touchdown being one of the exceptions) because they didn't need to.

So, yes, we saw a lot of things to like about Mississippi State. The Bulldogs did just give the No. 12 team in the country everything it could handle and may have put an end to Heisman hopes Leavitt harbored.

Maybe the best thing to love about this one was a win at the end. They've already gotten as many this year as they had all last season.

Celebrate this one. Everybody can worry about what's ahead after tonight.