Week four marks the 56th meeting between Florida and Mississippi State including the 13th matchup in Starkville. The Gators lead the all-time series 34-19-2 but are 5-7 in Starkville despite wins in their last two visits (2018, 2009).
The Bulldogs hold a 1-2 record and will host Florida for their first conference game of the 2024 season.
Florida is currently a six-point favorite over Mississippi State.
Gator Country breaks down how Florida and Mississippi State match up statistically.
Total offense
MSU: 375.7 YPG (82nd)
UF: 398.0 YPG (72nd)
Scoring offense
MSU: 32.0 PPG (59th)
UF: 27.3 PPG (82nd)
Passing offense
MSU: 278.0 YPG (43rd)
UF: 279.0 YPG (T-39th)
Rushing offense
MSU: 97.7 YPG (114th)
UF: 119.0 YPG (102nd)
Total defense
MSU: 388.0 YPG (T-94th)
UF: 407.30 YPG (106th)
Scoring defense
MSU: 26.0 PPG (T-90th)
UF: 27.0 PPG (T-94th)
Passing defense
MSU: 174.30 YPG (45th)
UF: 235.7 YPG (92nd)
Rushing defense
MSU: 213.7 YPG (121st)
UF: 171.70 YPG (101st)
Penalties per game
MSU: 5.67 (T-55th)
UF: 5.33 (T-45th)
Turnovers lost
MSU: 3 (T-55th)
UF: 6 (T-110th)
Turnovers gained
MSU: 2 (T-94th)
UF: 2 (T-94th)
Team sacks
MSU: 3 (T-108th)
UF: 5 (T-76th)
Sacks allowed:
MSU: 10 (T-120th)
UF: 5 (T-68th)
3rd down conversion %
MSU: .400 (T-73rd)
UF: .276 (120th)
3rd down defense
MSU: .417 (T-101st)
UF: .421 (T-104th)
Keys to victory
Create negatives, don’t allow them
Florida will need to create negative plays to knock Mississippi State’s up-tempo offense off rhythm. The Gators 3rd down conversion percentage of 27%, which is one of the worst in the FBS, is largely due to Florida’s inability to get to third and manageable. Florida needs to find success on the ground against MSU’s 121st ranked rushing defense and avoid penalties.
Create explosive passing plays
Mississippi State is extremely thin in the secondary right now. With cornerbacks Traveon Wright out and DeAgo Brumfield questionable, the Bulldogs had to move a safety to cornerback last week vs Toledo. Bulldog safeties Tyler Wood (out for the first half), Chris Keys Jr (questionable), and Corey Ellington (probable) also appeared on the injury report. The Gators need to expose an extremely banged up MSU secondary.