Mississippi State football doesn't receive single vote in 2024 preseason Coaches Poll
The first Coaches Poll of the 2024 college football season was released on Monday, and coaches have made it clear they aren't high on Mississippi State football going into the year.
2024 preseason Coaches Poll
Here's a full look at the 2024 preseason Coaches Poll with the number of 1st place votes in parentheses. SEC teams are listed in bold.
1. Georgia (46)
2. Ohio State (7)
3. Oregon
4. Texas (1)
5. Alabama
6. Ole Miss
7. Notre Dame
8. Michigan (1)
9. Penn State
10. Florida State
11. Missouri
12. LSU
13. Utah
14. Clemson
15. Tennessee
16. Oklahoma
17. Kansas State
18. Oklahoma State
19. Miami
20. Texas A&M
21. Arizona
22. NC State
23. USC
24. Kansas
25. Iowa
Nine of the 16 teams in the SEC - Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri, LSU, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M - are ranked in the preseason Coaches Poll, with four ranked in the top six. Auburn, Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina also received votes.
Mississippi State football goes without receiving a single vote for the first time in years
Mississippi State football was one of three SEC teams to not receive a single vote in the preseason Coaches Poll, alongside Arkansas and Vanderbilt. And while it's completely justifiable for the Bulldogs to not receive any votes, it does snap a streak for State in the Coaches Poll.
State's last preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll ranking came in 2018, when the Bulldogs were the preseason #18 team. But you have to go back to 2009 to find the last time MSU went without receiving a single vote by any of the coaches in the preseason.
This is the lowest MSU's national perception has been since Dan Mullen took over in Starkville. It's understandable given the complete reset occurring under Jeff Lebby this season, but it's wild to see a 14-year streak end.
Mississippi State will play six teams ranked in the preseason Coaches Poll
One of the main talking points when evaluating the Bulldogs heading into the 2024 season has been the difficulty of their schedule. That's reflected in the preseason Coaches Poll. State will play six teams ranked in the Top-20 of the poll and three of the top six between Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. Four of those games will be on the road.
Considering MSU didn't get a single vote in the poll, it's fair to say the gap between those teams and the Bulldogs is presumed to be wide. That makes their four non-conference games and SEC matchups with Florida and Arkansas all the more important when it comes to reaching bowl-eligibility.