RECAP: Mizzou suffers first loss of the year in Starkville

STARKVILLE, Ms. (KMIZ)

The 2026 unbeaten streak came to an end in for the Tigers in Davis Wade Stadium.

Mizzou came face to face with another 3-0 team in the opening SEC test of the year. But in a top 25 showdown, it was Mississippi State kept their winning ways alive.

"Credit to Mississippi State, they've got a good football team," said Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz. "It's going to hurt for a while because we gave ourselves an opprotunity twice to tie it up and didn't get it done."

Despite falling behind for the third consecutive week, the Tigers put on a show in the second and third quarters. Mizzou outscored the Bulldogs 24-3 in the middle 30 minutes, taking the lead on two separate occasions.

"I feel like we started off a little bit slower, but we were able to get some stuff going on the interior," Wide receiver Cayden Lee said. "We had a pretty good pass game, but it really came alive in the second half."

Even with that surge, Mississippi State rallied to put on a 14-0 run in the fourth and steal the win, 31-24.

"I think we were just really hurting ourselves," Quarterback Austin Simmons said. "There's a lot of self-inflicted wounds. We can all get better al around as a unit, especially from my part as well."

Simmons finished the game with 23 completions for 295 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores were connections with Lee, as the pair would finish with 156 yards.

On the other side, Bulldog quarterback Kamario Taylor also had an impressive night, throwing for 360 yards, with nine completions of 15 yards or more.

"I think we played well, but there were some communication errors that we had, but you know, it's got to go next week," Safety Trajen Greco said. "We should have been down into it, but we'll get a fix this week."

Despite struggles on the defensive end, edge rusher Daeden Hopkins had a breakout game. With Darris Smith inactive in week four and Langden Kitchen leaving the game early, Hopkins stepped up and recorded 3.5 sacks and four tackles.

"I think I made a pretty good impact, in the pass especially," Hopkins said. "I think in the run I need to make more of an impact, you know, coming out of my hips, my striking, I need to be better."

Up Next - Mizzou will return to Faurot Field to take on the eighth ranked Florida Gators. Kick off for the game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3.