Overview

• Kickoff is set for Sept. 27 at 4:15 p.m. ET at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, with Dave Neal, Fozzy Whittaker and Morgan Uber on the SEC Network call.
• Mississippi State is 4-0 for the first time since 2014 entering its SEC opener, allowing 11.8 points per game and converting all 16 red-zone trips with 13 touchdowns.
• Tennessee’s official availability lists Rickey Gibson III, Jermod McCoy, Daevin Hobbs, Radarious Jackson and Hunter Barnes as out, with Daune Morris and David Sanders Jr. questionable and Jaxson Moi probable.
• The Vols average 53.5 points (4th in FBS) and 554.0 yards per game (7th), led by Joey Aguilar (1,124 passing yards), Star Thomas (272 rushing) and Chris Brazzell II (426 receiving).
• Pre-game projections lean toward Tennessee, including a 34–21 forecast from Nolan Analytics and a 41–27 pick by the Knoxville News Sentinel.