NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1958 • 2003 • 2007 2011 SEC CHAMPIONS 1935 • 1936 • 1958 • 1961 • 1970 LSU FOOTBALL 1986 • 1988 • 2001 • 2003 • 2007 Mississippi State 3 September 15, 2011 • 7:06 p.m. CDT • ESPN/ESPN HD/ESPN 3D Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (55,082) #3 LSU (2-0, 0-0 SEC) NEXT UP SEPTEMBER (2-0) No. 3 LSU Opens SEC Play In Rare Thursday Tilt At No. 25 Mississippi State 3 Cowboys Classic (ABC) W, 40-27 Third-ranked LSU will play only the second non-Holiday Thursday night game in school history this week when the Tigers vs. #3 Oregon (in Arlington, Texas) open Southeastern Conference play against 25th-ranked Mississippi State in Starkville. Kickoff between the Tigers and the 10 Northwestern State (TigerVision PPV) W, 49-3 Bulldogs is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN. LSU goes into the contest with a 2-0 15 * at #25 Mississippi State (ESPN) 7 p.m. 24 at West Virginia TBA record following Saturday’s 49-3 non-conference win over Northwestern State. The win over the Demons ran the nation’s OCTOBER longest non-conference regular-season winning streak to 35 in a row. Mississippi State is 1-1 overall and 0-1 in league play 1 * Kentucky TBA following last week’s 41-34 setback to Auburn. Thursday’s game marks the 105th meeting between the teams and it’s the 8 * Florida TBA first time that both LSU and Mississippi State go into the contest ranked in the top 25. LSU is currently riding a school- 15 * at Tennessee TBA record 19-game winning streak in games played in September. The Tigers haven’t dropped a game in September since a 22 * Auburn TBA 7-3 loss to Auburn in 2006. LSU coach Les Miles is 24-13 against Top 25 teams during his seven years at LSU. The Tigers NOVEMBER also are 21-9 vs. the SEC Western Division and 15-9 in SEC road games under Miles. LSU has won 11 straight and 18 of its 5 * at Alabama TBA last 19 games with the Bulldogs, which includes last year’s 29-7 victory in Tiger Stadium. LSU’s other Thursday night game 12 Western Kentucky (HC) TBA came in 2007 when LSU opened the season with a 45-0 victory over Mississippi State in Starkville. Thursday’s game will 19 * at Ole Miss TBA pit the SEC’s top rushing offense in Mississippi State (321.0 yards per game) against the league’s top rushing defense in 25 * Arkansas (CBS) 1:30 p.m. DECEMBER LSU (45.5 yards per game). The Tigers are also averaging 44.5 points and 336.5 total yards (175.0 rushing, 161.5 passing). 3 SEC Championship Game (CBS) 3 p.m. Defensively, LSU is allowing 15.0 points per game and 215.0 total yards (45.5 rushing, 169.6 passing). Individually, RB Atlanta, Ga. Michael Ford (168 yards, 4 TDs) and Spencer Ware (119 yards, 3 TDs) lead the Tigers on the ground, while QBs Jarrett Lee (231 yards, 2 TDs) and Zach Mettenberger (92 yards, 1 TD) lead the passing attack. Freshman Odell Beckham (7 rec., 50 yards) and Rueben Randle (6 rec., 131 yards, 1 TD) are LSU’s leading receivers. CB Tyrann Mathieu (14 tackles, 2.0 TFL, #25 Mississippi State (1-1, 0-1 SEC) 3 PBUs, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 TD) paces the Tiger defense. SEPTEMBER (1-1) 1 at Memphis (FSN) W, 59-14 STORYLINES 10 * at Auburn (SEC Network) L, 41-34 • LSU and Mississippi State square • LSU is ranked in the top 25 for the • LSU has allowed just 91 rushing 15 * #3 LSU (ESPN) 7 p.m. off as Top 25 teams for the first time 35th straight poll and for the 96th yards in its first two games, which is 24 Louisiana Tech TBA in what will be the 105th meeting in time in 100 weeks under Les Miles. the fewest by the Tigers since 2007 OCTOBER 1 * at Georgia TBA the series. After Thursday’s game, LSU LSU has played 79 of its 81 games when Mississippi State (10) and 8 at UAB (FSN) 11 a.m. will have now played every SEC team under Miles as a Top 25 team and the Virginia Tech (71) were limited to 81 15 * South Carolina TBA in an all Top 25 matchups. Tigers are 63-16 in those games. yards during the first two games of 29 * at Kentucky TBA the year. NOVEMBER • LSU goes into Thursday riding • LSU has won 11 straight games 5 UT-Martin TBA winning streaks of: 19 straight in when winning the turnover battle. • LSU WR coach Billy Gonzales was 12 * Alabama TBA September; 11 straight vs. Mississippi Since the start of 2005, the Tigers are on the same coaching staff with 19 * at Arkansas TBA State; 5 straight in Starkville; and 4 27-4 when forcing more turnovers Mississippi State head coach Dan 26 * Ole Miss TBA straight in SEC openers. than they give up. Mullen for eight years at Bowling Green (2001-02), Utah (2002-03) On the Air • LSU has scored 14 special teams • LSU’s eight rushing TDs through the and Florida (2004-08). OC Greg Radio • LSU Sports Radio Network touchdowns under Les Miles (since first two games are the most by the Studrawa was on the same staff with Jim Hawthorne, play-by-play Doug Moreau, analyst 2005). Tigers through the first two games of Mullen at Bowling Green in 2001-02. Gordy Rush, sideline a season since having eight in 2001. Television • ESPN BREAKDOWN Rece Davis, play-by-play Jesse Palmer, analyst LSU Mississippi State Jenn Brown, sideline Record 2-0 (0-0 SEC) Record 1-1 (0-1 SEC) Ranking No. 3 Associated Press Ranking No. 25 Associated Press Television • Cox Sports (delay) No. 3 USA Today/Coaches No. 25 USA Today/Coaches Lyn Rollins, play-by-play Last Game Sept. 10 in Baton Rouge Last Game Sept. 10 in Auburn, Ala. Greg Bowser, analyst def. Northwestern State, 49-3 lost to Auburn, 41-34 Jordy Hultberg, sideline Head Coach Les Miles Head Coach Dan Mullen Career Record 92-38/11th year Career Record 15-12/third year LSU Record 64-17/seventh year MSU Record 15-12/third year vs. MSU 6-0 vs. LSU 0-2 Mississippi State Week 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Press Luncheon Practice SEC Teleconference Game Day No practice Practice TV Replay: 1 p.m. - Athletic Building, 4 p.m. - McClendon 10 a.m. Miles on call LSU at Mississippi State TBA • No Interviews LSU vs. Mississippi State 5th Floor Practice Facility (Closed) 7 p.m. CT • ESPN 7 p.m. 6:15 p.m. - Player Depart for Starkville: Cox Sports Television (CST) 2:15 p.m. - Player Interviews TBA Post Game (HD channel 737 and 37 in Interviews (Indoor Facility) Coach Miles is available Baton Rouge) Miles Radio Show Road Headquarters: following the game in the Practice 9 p.m. - TJ Ribs (Acadian) Hilton Garden Inn (Tupelo) press conference room. 4 p.m. - McClendon Practice Facility (Closed) Players will immediately 6:15 p.m. - Player follow in press conf. room Interviews WHO TO CONTACT LSU Media Services Sports Information Office (225) 578-8226 Assoc. AD/Sports Information Director Les Miles Interviews LSU Player Interviews Michael Bonnette • Assoc. AD/Sports Information Dir. Monday Press Luncheon LSU players are available to the media three times during E-mail: [email protected] • Twitter: @LSUBonnette LSU coach Miles meets with the media each Monday of a typical game week - Mondays, Tuesdays and following Bill Martin • Associate Sports Information Director game week in the press conference room, which is located the game on Saturday. Interview requests for the Monday E-mail: [email protected] • Twitter: @LSUBillMartin on the fifth floor of the LSU Athletic Administration and Tuesday media opportunities should be made at least Jake Terry • Associate SID (Social Media) Building. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. (CT) followed by 24 hours in advance and emailed to Michael Bonnette E-mail: [email protected] • Twitter: @LSUJake comments from the Coach Miles at 12:15 p.m. (CT). Media ([email protected]) and Bill Martin ([email protected]). members can park in Lot F on campus, which is located Members of the media are not permitted to contact LSU Television off of Nicholson Drive in front of the track stadium. A players on their cell phones under any circumstance. Kevin Wagner - [email protected] transcript of coach Miles’ opening statement and as well as the question and answer session can be found on the Following the Press Luncheon LSU Radio Internet at www.LSUsports.net/media. LSU players will be made available at 2 p.m. (CT) following Jim Hawthorne - [email protected] head coach Les Miles’ Press Luncheon each Monday Listen To Les Miles’ Weekly Press Conference afternoon at the Indoor Football Facility. Requests must LSU Sports Information Mailing Address Members of the media can access the audio portion of be made on (or prior to) the Sunday following the game. LSU Box 25095 Coach Miles’ Weekly Press Luncheon each Monday starting Baton Rouge, LA 70803 at 12:10 p.m. CT at www.LSUsports.net/live or over the Post Practice radio in the Baton Rouge area on 104.5 FM. LSU players are available after practice on Monday and ON THE INTERNET Tuesday by appointment at the Indoor Football Facility.