Missouri vs Mississippi State head-to-head: position-by-position star ratings, experience, and composite grades on CFB Matchup. They meet Week 4, Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The Breakdown
#25 Missouri edges Mississippi State 67-63, driven by Austin Simmons' 3 years against a first-year starter.
When Missouri has the ball: Ahmad Hardy's 3★ backfield runs into Mississippi State's 3.7★ linebackers — the toughest edge to solve.
When Mississippi State has the ball: 4★ receivers Ayden Williams and Anthony Evans III test Missouri's 3.3★ secondary — the game's biggest gap.
Swing factor: Both quarterbacks sit at 4★, but Simmons owns 3 years to Kamario Taylor's 1.
X-factor: Late-September Saturday in Starkville; Mississippi State's home crowd is the equalizer the numbers don't capture.