The Mississippi State Bulldogs bit and clawed their way to unprecedented heights last season, going unbeaten on a nine-game rampage to start off the season. They beat big SEC programs such as Texas A&M, Auburn and LSU during their win streak, but were dealt a setback in a loss to Alabama for their 10th game of the season, which ultimately sent them falling from grace.
The Bulldogs are back with last year’s stellar quarterback Dak Prescott leading the way. Can the Heisman contender breathe some life into his team that lost quite a few key pieces? Read on as we take a close look at the Mississippi State Bulldogs season to come.
Get in the know-how of the upcoming NCAA Football season. Check out the SEC preview for a look at the conference’s landscape. You can also check out complete preview for the Bulldogs’ divisional rivals, the Alabama Crimson Tide.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]2015-2016 Mississippi State College Football Preview
Overview
The Mississippi State Bulldogs were surprise contenders not just for the SEC crown, but also for the national championship last season, going on a 9-0 tear to start off the year. The Bulldogs were also ranked first on the AP Poll heading into their November 15 matchup against perennial conference favorites, the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Mississippi State suffered a narrow 25-20 loss against Alabama, then was shellacked 31-17 at Ole Miss just two weeks later. The two losses eventually had the Bulldogs falling out of the picture of the inaugural College Football Playoff. A 49-34 loss to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl punctuated the Bulldogs’ fall from grace last season.
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Things figure to get harder for Mississippi State this upcoming season. Running back Josh Robinson left Starkville for the NFL after rushing for a team-high 1,203 yards and 11 scores along the way.
The other side of the ball also has its fair share of losses; three of the top four tacklers along the defensive line have moved on. Three of the top five linebackers are also gone from last year’s unit, most notably Preston Smith and his team-high nine sacks and 15 tackles for loss.
Don’t count out the Bulldogs’ defense just yet, though. Head coach Dan Mullens has a great track record for developing defensive linemen, and he’ll have a handful of players at his disposal. Defensive lineman Chris Jones is talented, but didn’t start last year. Gerri Green is also a talented freshman who’s in position to take over one of the middle linebacker spots. Outside linebacker Beniquez Brown figures to lead the Bulldogs defense after finishing with the second most tackles (62) last season.
Key Player – Dak Prescott
The loss of personnel is a big hit and all, but Mississippi State can still be competitive against the best of teams with a Heisman Contender in quarterback Dak Prescott. The senior quarterback set 12 single-season school records in his breakout season last year, capped off by becoming the first Bulldog ever to finish a season with over 3,000 all-purpose yards and shattered that record with 4,470.
Prescott threw for 3,449 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. He rushed for 986 more yards and scored a team-high 14 rushing touchdowns. Don’t expect Prescott’s passing game to take a stepback with De’Runnya Wilson returning as one of the top receivers in the SEC after catching 47 passes for 680 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He may need to step up his running game, though, without Robinson powering the backfield anymore.
Key Game – vs Alabama (November 14)
Mississippi State will have a chance for sweet revenge against Alabama this year. The Bulldogs lost 25-20 to the Crimson Tide last season, which ultimately sent them packing from the top of the college football rankings. This upcoming game against the Tide may even be sweeter considering Mississippi State will play at Davis Wade Stadium.
The Bulldogs have a tough early schedule with a pair of back-to-back road games against Auburn and Texas A&M. Considering they remain undefeated until this game, the Bulldogs will have a grand chance of contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff with a victory over Alabama, which is also missing a couple of key starters this time around.
Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case
Prescott plays like a Heisman Trophy winner, while the defense remains competent under the guidance of head coach Mullen. Prescott’s stellar play along with a solid defensive unit lead the team to the top of the SEC West. The Bulldogs trounce their less-than-stellar SEC East counterparts and enter the College Football Playoff as SEC Champions.
Worst Case
Prescott can’t cover for the team’s losses this season. An inexperienced defense gives up way too much ground to their opponents as Mississippi State heads to the bottom of SEC West. The Bulldogs will need to almost completely revamp their roster for the next season as Prescott enters the NFL Draft.
Complete Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sept 5 | @ Southern Mississippi | 10:00 PM |
| Sat, Sept 12 | vs LSU | 9:15 PM |
| Sat, Sept 19 | vs Northwestern State | 4:00 PM |
| Sat, Sept 26 | @ Auburn | TBD |
| Sat, Oct 3 | @ Texas A&M | TBD |
| Sat, Oct 10 | vs Troy | TBD |
| Sat, Oct 17 | vs LA Tech | TBD |
| Sat, Oct 24 | vs Kentucky | TBD |
| Thu, Nov 5 | @ Missouri | 9:00 PM |
| Sat, Nov 14 | vs Alabama | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 21 | @ Arkansas | TBD |
| Sat, Nov 28 | vs Ole Miss | TBD |
Writer’s Prediction
Prescott enjoys some flashes of brilliance, but the Bulldogs fail to take a couple of key games to make the SEC Championship Game. Mississippi State has a letdown season compared to their 2014 campaign.
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