No. 23 Mississippi State 30, South Alabama 10: LaDarius Perkins and Dak Prescott rushed for touchdowns in the second quarter as the host Bulldogs overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Jaguars and improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1999.

After the Bulldogs punted on their first four possessions, Perkins ripped off a 44-yard TD run to open the scoring with 12:20 left in the half.

Prescott added a 2-yard TD run before Devon Bell booted a pair of 42-yard field goals to give Mississippi State a 20-0 halftime lead.

Perkins rushed for 69 yards on 11 carries to lead the Bulldogs while Tyler Russell struggled, connecting on just 13 of 27 passes for 171 yards with an interception.

South Alabama (1-3) was held to 123 yards rushing and was kept out of the end zone until C.J. Bennett's 18-yard TD pass to Greg Hollinger completed the scoring with 4:14 left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Bulldogs improved to 4-0 for only the fifth time in school history and just the second time since 1965. ... After a bye next week, they open Southeastern Conference play at Kentucky on Oct. 6. ... Mississippi State's Chad Bumphis, who is tied with Eric Moulds and Justin Jenkins for the school career record with 17 TD receptions, had just two catches for 35 yards.