If Mississippi State’s first 2018 opponent, Stephen F. Austin, was hopeful sophomore quarterback Keytaon Thompson would be rattled after finding out on short notice he was going to start his first regular season game, they will be greatly disappointed.

It’s business as usual for the unassuming signal caller, who did start against Louisville in the TaxSlayer Bowl last year and nearly rallied his team to a comeback win over Ole Miss in the latest Egg Bowl.

“You always preparing like the starter anyway,” Thompson said when meeting with the media Tuesday. “So my approach didn’t change at all.”

Thompson will start in place of Nick Fitzgerald, who received a one-game suspension for violating team rules. Fitzgerald broke team rules in March, but coach Joe Moorhead didn’t announce Fitzgerald wouldn’t play in the season opener until Monday.

Thompson told the media that he found out he was starting last Friday.

The sophomore quarterback also said he already has the mentality of being “one play away” from starting, and that came to fruition last fall. Fitzgerald left the regular season finale against rival Ole Miss with an injury and Thompson came on to throw for nearly 200 yards, rush for 121 and score two total touchdowns.

Less than a month later, Thompson led Mississippi State to a comeback against former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson. Against Louisville, Thompson only threw for 127 yards, but he displayed great playmaking ability, rushing for 147 yards and three scores.

The sophomore says his teammates have the same ‘business as usual’ approach as him even with the sudden change behind center.

“We all support whoever the starter is at the time. We have a great camaraderie in the QB room, we’re all for each other.”