The Mississippi State Bulldogs take the field in a little over an hour to begin their 2018 season!

However, things aren’t really going according to plan. Nick Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs’ star quarterback, was suspended for the opener earlier this week. So the Joe Moorhead Era will begin with quarterback Keytaon Thompson taking most of the reps against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks.

The good news for Thompson is that the likes of Kylin Hill and Aeris Williams are around. The duo is one of the more talented backfields in the SEC, and should expect to get heavy reps against the Lumberjacks on Saturday night. Moorhead certainly knows how to use his running backs so it will be intriguing to see how he uses these two.

All told, this should be a relatively easy effort for State, even without the presence of Fitzgerald. The best hope is for a W and, more importantly, health to rule all.

HOW TO WATCH MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

Time: 7:30 p.m.

TV: ESPNU

Commentators: Mike Couzens, Kirk Morrison

Radio: Mississippi State Radio Affiliates

Streaming: You can find this game via WatchESPN.