Mississippi State became the first SEC football program to be fined for field-storming after the conference amped up the cost of the infraction in late May.
The brand-new lights were bright, the cowbells were ringing, and the field was stormed at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday after a valiant, nail-biting win over Arizona State. But the festivities came with a price tag attached, a $500,000 one to be exact. Since the game was against a nonconference team, the half-million-dollars will go to the SEC’s post-graduate scholarship fund instead of the opponent’s athletics department.
Related: Players from Mississippi State, Ole Miss earn weekly awards after Saturday wins
Disaster all but ensued in Starkville when No. 12 Arizona State scored 20 unanswered points and erased a 17-0 lead by the Bulldogs (2-0). With a little over a minute left in the fourth quarter, Jeff Lebby’s squad found itself trailing by three points after Arizona State (1-1) drove 95 yards down the field, bled nearly 10 minutes off the clock, and kicked a go-ahead field goal to take its first lead of the night. But the late-night magic ultimately favored the home team.
With 39 seconds remaining in regulation, Bulldog signal caller Blake Shapen connected with Oklahoma transfer Brenen Thompson to put Mississippi State up 24-20. Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt sealed the game in maroon and white with an interception on the Sun Devils’ next play from scrimmag. A full recap can be found here.
The fine was not the only bad news Mississippi State faithful were subject to Monday. Head coach Jeff Lebby confirmed to the media that defensive lineman Will Whitson and offensive lineman Blake Steen will not play another snap this season. Whitson was the team’s sack leader in the first two matchups of the 2025 campaign.
Next up for the Bulldogs is a home battle against Alcorn State. The game is slated for a 5 p.m. CT kickoff, with ESPN+ and participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations handling the broadcasting duties.
