UL Monroe at Mississippi State

The matchup to watch is Mississippi State’s reworked offensive line against UL Monroe defenders Noah Flemmings and Jabari Tiller. Flemmings produced 80 tackles and 10 tackles for loss last season; Tiller added 46 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. Jeff Lebby said six Bulldogs linemen looked capable entering camp, while eight portal additions enlarged the group. That unit must create clean reads for Taylor and lanes for Fluff Bothwell, who ran for 677 yards and six scores in 2025. If Flemmings and Tiller can muddy run fits and push Taylor into passing situations, UL Monroe can keep Mississippi State from settling into its rhythm.

Mississippi State can control the game by leaning into the stress Taylor and Bothwell place on a defense: force UL Monroe to account for the quarterback in the run game, stay ahead of the chains, then create isolated chances for returning receiver Anthony Evans III. The Bulldogs’ defense has a similar assignment in reverse. Returning corner Kelley Jones and safety Isaac Smith provide experience behind a front that added Dealyn Evans and Amaree Williams, but the new pieces must fit quickly. UL Monroe’s best route is to protect whichever quarterback wins the job, avoid giveaways and let sustained possessions limit Mississippi State’s opportunities. Short fields or repeated third-and-longs would put too much pressure on a still-unsettled Warhawks offense.