By Elijah Klepczyk
Emmerich Newspapers
STARKVILLE –- Football season has arrived in Starkville, and Mississippi State opens with an intriguing non‑conference home matchup against Louisiana‑Monroe on Saturday, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. “We are going to need to play really well in all three phases,” head coach Jeff Lebby said about the matchup to come.
The Warhawks will be led by head coach Bryant Vincent, who is entering his fourth year at the helm. Last year ULM posted a 3-9 record (1-7 in the Sun Belt), and finished second-to-last in the conference standings.
Lebby said the staff expects ULM to be a run‑first offense based on what they’ve seen on film so far in their game prep. The Warhawks added two transfer running backs in the offseason: Donald Chaney Jr. and Bryson Roland. Chaney Jr., who began his career at Miami (FL), has totaled 852 rushing yards and six touchdowns with the Hurricanes and is returning from an injury suffered while playing for the University of Charlotte. Roland rushed for 1,148 yards and nine touchdowns last season at Arkansas Tech in the Great American Conference at the Division II level.
Lebby highlighted wideout Nic Trujillo as a key threat, noting the preseason All‑Sun Belt pick posted 23 receptions for 368 yards last year.
Although Mississippi State is heavily favored, ULM still poses an offensive threat, and Lebby said the new Zach Arnett‑led defense will need to play well.
ULM’s strongest position group may be its linebackers, anchored by returning starter Noah Flemmings, who posted 80 tackles and 11 tackles for loss last year. That group could give Fluff Bothwell and the Bulldogs’ run game an early challenge.
Lebby stressed that he wants to see “clean football” on Saturday night, specifically citing taking care of the football and that pre-snap penalties are kept to a minimum, “That will be a huge stress for us,” he added.
Lebby also noted that Mississippi State was able to set the kickoff time for the opener and intentionally chose an evening start. “I like it for our fanbase,” he said, adding that parts of the stadium should be shaded by then and the later kickoff will give fans more time for pre‑game festivities and a relaxed arrival to Davis Wade.
Fans will have to soak up the home game vibes this weekend, because for the next two weeks the Bulldogs will be on the road – facing Minnesota on Sept.12 and opening SEC play against South Carolina on Sept. 19 – before returning home to host Missouri on Sept. 26.
