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15 Best Games From The Dan Mullen Era of Mississippi State Football

By Ethan Lee

STARKVILLE, MS - OCTOBER 11: A general view of Davis Wade Stadium prior to the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers on October 11, 2014 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - OCTOBER 11: A general view of Davis Wade Stadium prior to the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers on October 11, 2014 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 11: Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs hangs his head as he walks off the field after falling to the Alabama Crimson Tide 31-24 during the second half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 11: Nick Fitzgerald #7 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs hangs his head as he walks off the field after falling to the Alabama Crimson Tide 31-24 during the second half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /

Mississippi State Football vs Alabama 2017

This is the only loss that is on this list. There’s often no real reason to include any losses on here because, well, losses are the opposite of what you want your college football team to do. Nobody wants their college football team to lose and nobody really wants to acknowledge “moral victories.”

But this game was a little different. And this isn’t about moral victories. This isn’t going to be about patting Dan Mullen on the back about how MSU came close to beating Alabama. The Bulldogs had a chance but fell short. They missed their opportunity here.

But, for the first time in Dan Mullen’s time at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs didn’t look overwhelmed by the Crimson Tide. For the first time in Dan Mullen’s stint in Starkville, Mississippi State went toe-to-toe with Alabama. For the first time with Mullen leading the Mississippi State Bulldogs, his team appeared fully capable of winning against what is arguably the best dynasty college football has ever seen.

In all of the previous games between the Bulldogs and the Tide, Mississippi State was either absolutely manhandled or looked completely outmatched. That includes the historic 2014 Mississippi State football team. Even before this game, when the Bulldogs battled Georgia and Auburn, MSU was blown out because it looked outmatched and overwhelmed.

But, in the 2017 Alabama game, this team came close. This team changed the narrative about how it could compete with the very best in the country. Even though Mullen isn’t back with the Bulldogs, this game is still important for the future of MSU football.

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