Jeff Lebby boils Mississippi State's Egg Bowl loss down to handful of costly mistakes
Mississippi State football fell in the Egg Bowl 26-14 to rival Ole Miss. The loss closes out a frustrating 2-10 season, in which the Bulldogs continually showed fight against strong competition but could never finish the deal.
That was the case in the Egg Bowl. State was within a score of the Rebels for most of the game, and still had a realistic chance at a win late in the fourth quarter. But State ultimately couldn't do enough to win. According to Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby, a handful of key plays determined the outcome. In his postgame press conference, he detailed four big moments that ultimately cost Mississippi State the Golden Egg.
"To me, the game comes down to two picks, we spot them three on the first drive of the game. And then we muff the punt. We get no points down there first and one at the one. "
- Miss State HC Jeff Lebby
State took the ball first to open the game. Michael Van Buren threw an interception on just the third play of the day, giving the Rebels the ball in State territory which led to a quick three points. On State's first drive of the second half, down 17-14 following a forced punt, Van Buren threw a second pick, underthrowing an open man on a play that could've scored for the Bulldogs.
Later in the third quarter with the score still just 17-14, Kevin Coleman muffed a punt, setting up another Ole Miss field goal. Finally, in the fourth quarter, down 26-14, the Bulldogs were set up with a 1st & Goal at the Ole Miss one. They failed to score, and that ended any shot they had.
"Those four drives right there, again it's going to be really hard to beat a really good football team when those four things happen inside the game."
- Jeff Lebby
That's a frustrating place to be in as a team, knowing that a few key mistakes ultimately cost you from getting a big win. And it just comes down to executing better.
"There's so many things throughout that game that give us a chance for a different outcome if we play a little cleaner, if we execute a little cleaner, if we do some things a little differently. So there's frustrating moments. "
- Jeff Lebby
But along with the critical mistakes, Lebby said there were missed opportunities in the game on the offensive end where they had chances to connect on big plays or convert in key moments and failed to do so.
That's been a theme this season for Mississippi State. Lebby has continually talked about missing chances to connect on big plays that should be routine for the offense, which he calls "making the layups." Lebby believes that's what's going to have to change for his team to get on the winning end in these competitive battles.
"You've heard me talk a little bit about making the layups. I think that's something that is absolutely critical."
- Jeff Lebby
There's no correcting that for 2024. This season is now in the books for the Bulldogs. Those missed layups and crucial mistakes will instead have to be learning opportunities for this team going into the future. I have no doubt this season will stay on the minds of Mississippi State going into 2025, and I imagine the missed opportunities in particular will serve as motivation.