Mississippi State football is looking to become more competitive in the ever-evolving world of college athletics after a rather troubling start to the 2024 season.
Bulldog Athletics Director Zac Selmon announced on Thursday that a generous family, which elected to remain anonymous, has pledged $8 million to advance the university’s mission of delivering exceptional competitive resources that will uplift the football program.
“This thoughtful and generous investment in our program is critical to what we are building here in Starkville in this new era of college athletics,” Selmon said. “To be an elite-level program, it takes elite-level resources. A gift of this magnitude shows the unwavering drive to establish Mississippi State Football as a premier college football destination for many years to come. I could not be more grateful for the commitment to championing our programs and players.”
The pledge comes after Mississippi State suffered a 41-17 loss to Toledo at home — a defeat that prompted Bulldog fans to flood social media and message boards alike with their concerns over the current state of the program. Those concerns have seemingly been amplified by in-state rival No. 5 Ole Miss’ recent success on the gridiron.
While a proverbial dark cloud may have hovered over Davis-Wade Stadium on Saturday, the multi-million dollar pledge paired with a couple of wins on the recruiting trail could potentially sell hope to a fanbase that had dwindling expectations ahead of the latest wave of positive headlines.
Though his team has suffered back-to-back losses after opening the season a blowout victor, the momentum pendulum has begun to swing back in the right direction as first-year head coach Jeff Lebby caught a couple of breaks in recruiting.
On Wednesday, former Alabama defensive back and five-star high school prospect Tony Mitchell, a current player on East Mississippi Community College’s roster, committed to take his talents to Starkville in 2025. One day later, highly coveted four-star Tyler Lockhart, a homegrown linebacker out of Winona, also committed to be a member of Coleman Hutzler’s defense come next year.
Per a press release from the university, the $8 million pledge is the second-largest commitment in Mississippi State Athletics history and will be utilized to launch the State Excellence Fund, which will be dedicated to enhancing student-athlete resources and providing athletic benefits in a highly competitive environment.
“This investment in our program shows that State fans are ‘all-in’ when it comes to helping provide the resources it takes to compete in the toughest conference in the country,” Lebby said. “Having their support and belief in what we’re building is crucial for us as we continue to move forward. There are truly no words that can describe how thankful I am for the commitment to the program I am blessed to lead.”
Specifics were not given regarding how the $8 million pledge will be delivered. No information was provided on whether the pledge will come to fruition via a series of installments over a set timeframe or if it will be transferred in a lump sum.
Meanwhile, action will resume for Mississippi State (1-2) in Lebby’s inaugural campaign on Saturday when a struggling Florida Gators squad (1-2) rolls into Starkville. That game will kick off at 11 a.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN as well as participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations.
