Mississippi State football: examining the Eastern Kentucky offense

Mississippi State football opens the season with the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Saturday. Here's what you need to know about the EKU offense going into the game...

Eastern Kentucky fielded a strong offense in 2023

Eastern Kentucky finished the 2023 season with a losing record, but offense was not the problem for the Colonels. EKU put up 29.5 points per game. They finished eight in all of the FCS in total offense at 437.4 yards per game. The Colonels were particularly strong in the passing game, averaging 275.7 pass yards per game. They had success on the ground too with 161.6 rush yards per game.

The Colonels have to replace a lot of that offensive production

Unfortunately for EKU, much of that production from 2023 must be replaced. The Colonels lost their starting QB, top RB, and their top three WRs. That RB was a big part of their passing game, so almost every key contributor to their passing attack is gone.

Western Illinois-transfer Matt Morrissey takes over at QB after putting up modest numbers last season (61%, 1981 yards, 13 TDs, 7 INTs). Who will emerge as his top targets at WR is a big question, but he'll have a good TE to throw to in Hunter Brown.

With so much new in their passing game, expect the Colonels to lean more on their rushing attack in 2024. Four starters are back along the OL, including stud LT Payton Collins. RB Joshua Carter put up 728 yards and four TDs a year ago, and the coaching staff likes their options in the backfield.

How Mississippi State matches up with the EKU offense

If this was the same EKU team as a year ago, I'd honestly have some concerns about facing their offense given the questions we have about the MSU secondary. But with a new QB and less talent at WR, the Bulldogs should be ok.

State is likely to be better against the run with the pieces they have along the DL and at LB. If the Colonels do in fact try to be more a run-heavy team, that should play into State's favor, especially because a FCS team simply can't match-up physically with a SEC team.