Mississippi State football: 3 storylines to watch vs. Texas A&M Aggies

Nov 4, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Chris Parson (16) looks to pass against the Kentucky Wildcats during the fourth quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Chris Parson (16) looks to pass against the Kentucky Wildcats during the fourth quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
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Running back Jeffery Pittman #25 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs
STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI – NOVEMBER 04: Running back Jeffery Pittman #25 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs runs the ball through traffic during their game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Davis Wade Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Can Kevin Barbay get the Mississippi State Football offense rolling?

It’s no secret that Kevin Barbay and the Mississippi State offense haven’t had much fun throughout the year. The Bulldogs’ offense has failed to find a groove and while it’s fair to wonder if Barbay was a good fit for this roster or if he was ever given full control of the offense, it’s clear that he needs to find a way to generate points.

And that might involve Will Rogers, who has been injured for much of the year. Rogers had a phenomenal performance in Barbay’s offense when the Bulldogs faced the South Carolina Gamecocks, but other than that, he hasn’t exactly thrived.

So far this season, Rogers has completed 61.4 percent of his passes and has thrown for 1,275 yards, 10 touchdowns against four interceptions.

Those numbers don’t match what we’ve seen from the Air Raid QB throughout his career and while he’s been out, the Bulldogs have definitely looked dreadful on this side of the ball. It’ll be fascinating to see if he’s back this week and what the offense looks like around him if he’s healthy.

Or, if he’s not 100 percent, will MSU turn to Mike Wright despite his struggles? Is he even fully healthy after taking some shots against Kentucky? Will MSU allow Chris Parson to operate the offense?

An what about at running back? Woody Marks hasn’t been healthy for most of the season and despite how well he’s performed, we haven’t seen Seth Davis really unleashed yet. What’s going on there?