Mississippi State football: 5 questions as Bulldogs reportedly target Jeff Lebby

Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby stands beside Oklahoma's Dillon Gabriel (8) before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kansas State Wildcats at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.oujournal -- print1
Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby stands beside Oklahoma's Dillon Gabriel (8) before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kansas State Wildcats at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022.oujournal -- print1
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Quarterback Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws passes as offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby watches
STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 4: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws passes as offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby watches before a Bedlam game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 4, 2023 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 27-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

How fast will Jeff Lebby and Mississippi State football succeed in the SEC?

As he assumes the role of head coach of the Mississippi State football team, Jeff Lebby will be thrust into a conference where he gets the opportunities to face a few programs that he’s pretty familiar with, including a previous employer.

There’s clearly the Egg Bowl as a chance for Lebby to face his former boss at Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin. But also he gets to meet up with the Texas Longhorns this next year. Plus MSU meets up with Tennessee, where Lebby will face another former boss, Josh Heupel. At some point in the future, he will get to meet up with the Oklahoma Sooners.

The SEC is about to get really interesting really quickly. If Lebby is up to the mammoth challenge, the timing of his arrival provides intriguing potential for Mississippi State.

The SEC is in a bit of a state of flux right now. Arkansas isn’t good and is in the midst of an awful year. Texas A&M needs a new coach. The Florida Gators have talent, but they haven’t been consistent. A lot of changes are happening in the SEC right now.

So, Lebby has an interesting opportunity ahead of him.

It doesn’t seem wise to expect immediate success. MSU’s schedule features some talented teams next season. It’s going to take some time for the Bulldogs to get used to Lebby’s offense. But it’ll be interesting to see how quickly Lebby can find success in the SEC.