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STARKVILLE, Mississippi – The rotation of quarterbacks Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway for the Florida football team worked great Saturday afternoon at Mississippi State.

Mertz threw three touchdowns and ran for another, while Lagway led the Florida Gators on two long touchdown drives to help UF to a 45-28 victory over Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium.

Florida (2-2, 1-1 SEC) ended a seven-game losing streak against Power Four opponents and earned its first win against a major conference school since a 41-39 win over South Carolina on Oct. 14, 2023.

Mertz threw all three of his touchdown passes in the first half to help the Gators to a 28-14 halftime score. Mississippi State cut UF's lead to 28-21 in the third quarter with a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Shapen to receiver Jordan Mosely, but Florida responded with Mertz capping an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with a 1-yard touchdown drive to give Florida a 35-21 lead.

With a score of 35-21, Florida took a big lead at the goal line early in the fourth quarter when Mississippi State (1-3, 0-1 SEC) dropped the ball on a fourth-and-goal play at the 1-yard line and UF linebacker Grayson Howard recovered it.

Lagway then led UF on a 93-yard touchdown drive, giving the Gators a 42-21 lead.

Florida improved to 13-6 overall and 3-7 away under third-year head coach Billy Napier.

WATCH FLORIDA FOOTBALL VS MISSISSIPPI STATE ON FUBO (FREE TRIAL)

team	1 quarter	2nd quarter	3rd quarter	4th quarter	Score
Florida	7	21	7	10	45
State of Mississippi	7	7	7	7	28

Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway leads Florida on a 10-play, 93-yard touchdown drive that extends UF's lead to 42-21 with 8:24 left. Freshman running back Jadan Baugh had some nice runs on the drive. There was an uh-oh moment at the end when Lagway dropped the ball near the end zone, but left tackle Austin Barber recovered it in the end zone, leading to the UF touchdown.

The Florida football team holds firm on defense and recovers a fumble on fourth and goal at the 1 to get the ball back. Freshman DJ Lagway plays quarterback for the Gators.

Florida's defense is still struggling while Mississippi State is close to scoring another touchdown. Florida beat MSU 389-349.

Quarterback Graham Mertz caps an eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to give Florida a 35-21 lead with 3:37 left in the third quarter. Mertz's big play was a 28-yard pass to Chimere Dike that put UF in the red zone. Mertz has now completed 18 of 20 passes for 191 yards and 3 touchdowns, including 24 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

After Florida begins the third quarter with a three-and-out, Mississippi State launches a 13-play, 76-yard touchdown attack, cutting UF's lead to 28-21 with 6:38 left in the first quarter. Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen caps the attack with a 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jordan Mosely.

Florida's football team heads into the locker room with a 28-14 halftime lead against Mississippi State. The Gators defeated Mississippi State 311-216. Florida will receive the kickoff for the second half.

Mississippi State managed 6 plays and 75 yards in 54 seconds, capped by a 3-yard run by quarterback Blake Shapen, to cut Florida's lead to 28-14 with 23 seconds left in the first half.

Freshman quarterback DJ Lagway leads Florida on a 10-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that was capped with a 10-yard touchdown run by Ja'Kobi Jackson to put Florida ahead 28-7. Highlights of the drive for Lagway included a 10-yard snap to convert a third down attempt and a 27-yard pass to Elijhah Badger to put UF in the red zone. Florida 28, Mississippi State 7, 1:17 left in the half.

Florida scores quickly when quarterback Graham Mertz finds tight end Hayden Hansen for a 35-yard touchdown pass and the Gators take a 21-7 lead over MSU with 9:02 left in the second quarter. Chimere Dike gives UF good field position with a 34-yard punt return.

Quarterback Graham Mertz caps a 7-play, 65-yard run with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Burke to give Florida a 14-7 lead over Mississippi State. Mertz completes 13 of 14 passes for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Florida defeated Mississippi State by a narrow margin of 86-84. Freshman DJ Lagway is at quarterback and threw a 15-yard pass to Marcus Burke to end the first quarter.

Mississippi State responds with a touchdown run in which the Bulldogs cover 62 yards in 8 plays, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Davon Booth. Florida 7, Mississippi State 7 with 21 seconds left in the first quarter. UF's defense had trouble stopping runs up the middle on this one.

Florida's football team takes an early 7-0 lead. Quarterback Graham Mertz caps a 13-play, 84-yard run with a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Arlis Boardingham. Mertz ran for 23 yards on the run, including a 16-yard run and a 7-yard run in the red zone on third down. Florida 7, Mississippi State 0, 3:39 minutes left in the first quarter.

Mandatory SEC Availability Report for Florida-Mississippi State football team: Wide receiver Tank Hawkins available, 10 players are out for the Gators, including wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, safety Asa Turner, defensive back Aaron Gates and defensive lineman Joey Slackman.

Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: Midday
Location: Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (capacity 61,337), Starkville, Mississippi.

History of Florida vs. Mississippi State football

Series record: Florida leads 34-19 (two ties)
Last meeting: Florida defeats Mississippi State 13-6 (September 29, 2018)

Predictions for the Florida vs. Mississippi State football game

Florida will start faster and create more balance on offense. UF's defense will struggle at times but make enough plays to help the Gators to their first SEC win since defeating South Carolina on Oct. 14, 2023.

Predicting the final result: Florida 35, Mississippi State 24

Betting odds for Florida Football vs Mississippi State

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, September 20

Betting offer: Florida-6

Over/Under: 58.5 points

Weather updates for Florida Football vs. Mississippi State

According to Weather.com, the forecast for the Florida-Mississippi State game at kickoff in Starkville, Mississippi, is a high temperature of 86 degrees with a south wind of 2 miles per hour and a 0% chance of rain.

Tickets for the Florida vs. Mississippi State football game

Tickets for the Florida State University at Mississippi State football game are available through Ticketmaster or secondary markets such as StubHub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek.

VIEW TICKETS FOR EVERY FLORIDA FOOTBALL GAME THIS SEASON

Florida Football Schedule 2024

August 31: Miami (N, 41-17)
September 7: Samford (win, 45-7)
September 14: Texas A&M (N, 33-20)
September 21: at Mississippi State
28 September: Bye
October 5: UCF
October 12: in Tennessee
October 19: Kentucky
October 26: Bye
November 2: Georgia (Jacksonville)
November 9: in Texas
November 16: LSU
November 23: Ole Miss
November 30: at Florida State
Record: 1-2. 0-1 SEC

Mississippi State Football Schedule 2024

August 31: Eastern Kentucky (W, 56-17)
September 7: at Arizona State (N, 30-23)
14 September: Toledo (N, 41-17)
September 21: Florida
September 28: in Texas
5 Oct: Bye
October 12: in Georgia
October 19: Texas A&M
October 26: Arkansas
November 2: UMass
November 9: in Tennessee
16 November: Bye
November 23: Missouri
30 November: at Ole Moss
Record: 1-2, 0-0 SEC

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