What’s Left for Mississippi State in 2015?
Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen watches a replay during the second quarter of the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Davis Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
The last bit of hope Mississippi State had at making it to Atlanta finally died against the Crimson Tide. With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 7-3 overall and 3-3 in SEC play. Alabama moved to 6-1 in the SEC and can only have two losses at most.
Since the West is mathematically impossible, what is there left for the Bulldogs to play for. While still in the shadow of a crushing defeat, it might not seem like much. But there is still two very important games left for the Bulldogs.
9 wins and a possibility of a 10th
Arkansas and Ole Miss are good teams, but they are not the Crimson Tide. Arkansas is playing really well right now, and moved to 6-4 with a win over LSU last night in Baton Rouge. But teams that throw the ball really well can give both of these teams fits. I can realistically see winning both, losing both, or splitting. But they can be won, and if the Bulldogs can rebound, 9 wins and running it to 10 with a win in the bowl is entirely possible.
Much needed experience
This team showed the lack of experience we all heard about so much in the offseason, especially on the offensive line. Can a lowly rated offensive line match up with the elites of the SEC? The Bulldogs did it in 2014, but they did it with a group that played together for a long time. The more this group plays together, the more it will help them in 2016 and beyond.
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Getting the Golden Egg back
One of the reasons so many didn’t think Mississippi State would be good this year, and the reason so many people were to quick to list Ole Miss as a dark horse was because of the Egg Bowl. Mississippi State looked awful and Ole Miss looked like they were licking their wounds and figuring things out. Winning the Egg Bowl is important, and it can carry you into the next season, whether right or wrong.
Appreciating Dak
Mississippi State has a player at quarterback that should go down as one of the all time greats in College Football. He won’t by the rest of the country, and it’s a shame. Most will think of Dak Prescott as a good player, but couldn’t beat Alabama in the two games he played against him. Dak Prescott was far more than that, so Mississippi State fans need to appreciate what they have in these last two games even if the rest of the country doesn’t. For all that has been made about the potential of the quarterbacks waiting in the wings, Mississippi State fans have forgotten what our offense was like before Dak Prescott. It isn’t going to be fun going back there when he is gone in 2016.
Next: Mississippi State Offensive Line Owes Dak Prescott an Apology
You might not like the way Mississippi State’s season looks right now after the loss to Alabama. In a couple of days, that will wear off. Two big games remain on the schedule that will be the final things to determine how we look at 2015. There is a lot to play for.