Mississippi State vs. ETSU: Highlights, final score, and analysis

The Mississippi State football team defeated the East Tennessee State Buccaneers today, 56-7. The Bulldogs put up the most points they have scored all season in today’s game vs. the Buccaneers.

Here are my early post-game thoughts:

Will Rogers needed the reps for Thursday’s game vs. Ole Miss.

Will Rogers played for three quarters today vs. the East Tennessee State Buccaneers and passed for 301 yards and 5 touchdowns. Even when Mississippi State led the game by 42 points, Will Rogers was still taking snaps for the Bulldogs. Why? Because Mike Leach knew he needed as many reps that could give him confidence for Thanksgiving night.

Emmanuel Forbes makes a name for himself in the record books.

With his sixth career pick six, Emmanuel Forbes now holds the SEC record for the most pick sixes in a career. Mississippi State needs Forbes to have a big game vs. Ole Miss during the 2022 Egg Bowl.

Today may have been insight into Tulu receiving more touches next week in the Egg Bowl.

For the second week in a row, we watched Mike Leach call an end-around play where he tried to get Tulu Griffin to the outside. The play did not work vs. the No. 1 team in the nation, the Georgia Bulldogs, but it did work vs. FCS opponent, the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. Griffin scored a touchdown off this play call today. Expect this play to be in Mike Leach’s play card next week. Tulu also seemed to have more targets today with 4 receptions for 53 yards.

Most importantly, no injuries, no targeting ejections.

I knew this would be this most important part of today’s game vs. the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. The Mississippi State Bulldogs were the obvious favorite today, but it was important to stay healthy for next Thursday night’s Egg Bowl. Not only was it important for all the Bulldogs to stay healthy, it was important that no defensive players were called for targeting in the second half. It was a close call whenever DeShawn Page was called for targeting, but it was reviewed, and the penalty was picked up.

Here we come Egg Bowl.