Mississippi State football fans can't argue with the preseason SEC poll this year

When you finish dead last in your league and were one of the very worst power conference teams in the country, it's going to be hard to get much positive recognition entering the next season. With that in mind, it comes as a surprise to absolutely no one that Mississippi State football was picked to finish last in the SEC for 2025 in the league's preseason media poll.

Bulldog fans grew accustomed to ripping apart media predictions about their team in the preseasons of the past 15 years. Frequently, Mississippi State football would be grossly underestimated by pundits, being overlooked in favor of underachieving bigger brand programs despite the Bulldogs consistently proving themselves on the field. Picking State to finish last in the now-defunct SEC West based on an unjustified perception was a fool's errand.

Well, no one can complain about the current perception of the Bulldog program.

SEC media won't believe it until the see it from Mississippi State

Coming off a season in which they went 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC with a blowout home loss to Toledo, it's going to be incredibly difficult to convince college football media that Mississippi State is not the clear worst team in the conference.

Sure, State is not the same team they were in 2024. Jeff Lebby and his staff landed a solid transfer class that has helped improve the talent on the roster, potentially significantly. But it's not the type of class that's going to garner enough attention to make anyone believe this isn't still the worst roster in the SEC.

You could potentially make a case that Kentucky, picked 15th, is in worse shape, especially as Mark Stoops' perception continues to stumble. But for now the Wildcats are still going to understandably get some benefit of the doubt over the Bulldogs. They did at least manage a significant win last season (a win we're all very glad they got).

It should also be pointed out that MSU could be significantly improved and still finish last in the league. With a schedule as brutal as theirs, seeing a major change in the win column is likely going to be difficult to pull off with just one offseason of roster building.

Ultimately, outsiders are not going to give Mississippi State an ounce of positive attention until they prove things have actually turned around. Not that they were regularly getting positive attention when the program was in good shape, but you get the point. The doubts about the Bulldogs haven't been this strong in a long time, but there's no arguing them.