2015 Mississippi State Football Rewind: Alabama

Nov 14, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) reacts after a play in the third quarter of the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Davis Wade Stadium. Alabama won 31-6. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Now that the season is over, we take a look back at each game and how it played out.

The Setup

The Mississippi State Bulldogs came into this game clinging to what remained of their SEC West title hopes. Win, and things might just go their way and they would have a chance to play Ole Miss with a trip to Atlanta on the line.

Alabama came into the game running people over, and they had just dispatched previously unbeaten LSU. The Tide looked as good as they ever have, and beating Saban’s crew was a daunting task.

Key Stats and Final Score

• Mississippi State Yards
  • Passing: 304
  • Rushing: 89
• Alabama Yards
  • Passing: 144
  • Rushing: 235
• Mississippi State Stand Out Performances
  • Dak Prescott: 22/43, 300 Passing Yards, 1 Interception
  • Fred Ross: 8 Receptions, 114 Yards
• Alabama Stand Out Performances
  • Jake Coker: 15/25, 144 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 1 Interception
  • Derrick Henry: 22 Carries, 204 Yards, 2 Touchdowns
• Final Score: Alabama 31, Mississippi State 6

What we thought at the time

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For all Dan Mullen did to dispel the notion he couldn’t win a big game in 2014, most of it was wiped away in this game. Despite the fact Mississippi State outgained the Crimson Tide, the Bulldogs were dominated in every other facet.

Mississippi State did a nice job of holding serve in the first quarter. They kept the game scoreless, and the defense was doing all it could to keep the team in the game. Then Cyrus Jones ran a punt back for 69 yards, and that was that.

Once the big blow had been dealt, it seemed like the Bulldogs just caved. Derrick Henry then had two huge runs and The Crimson Tide would win convincingly. Dak Prescott tried his best to keep the team in the game, but the offensive line might as well have taken the game off. PRescott was sacked 9 times, and the Bulldogs had no chance

What we should have thought now the season is over

It was an awful game, and no one really tried to say other wise. There was certainly overreaction though. Many declared Mississippi State’s season to be dead. Many Mississippi State fans assumed the Bulldogs were about to go and lose the last two games of the season and finish in one of the most disappointing ways possible. Little did they know they were about to get the best game they would watch all year.