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What to watch for as Mississippi State football faces the Texas Longhorns

We can still learn a lot about the Bulldogs as they take on Texas.

By Andrew Miller

Sep 21, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. (0) drops back to pass against the Florida Gators during the fourth quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images
Sep 21, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. (0) drops back to pass against the Florida Gators during the fourth quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images / Matt Bush-Imagn Images
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Mississippi State football (1-3) travels to Austin to face #1 Texas (4-0) at 3:15 PM CT on Saturday. The Bulldogs are massive underdogs, and with tough circumstances surrounding the team, their chances of even being competitive with the Longhorns are incredibly slim. But there are still a few things I want to watch for during the game.

How does Michael Van Buren perform in his first start?

With Blake Shapen done for the year, true freshman Michael Van Buren takes over at QB. The 4-star signee and Under Armour All-American Game MVP was Jeff Lebby's hand-picked recruit at QB. He's a talented player that's drawn comparison's to one of Lebby's best in Dillon Gabriel, and he played well in relief of Shapen last week against Florida. But going on the road against the #1 team and their dominant defense is a different story. It'd be ludicrous to expect a huge day from Van Buren, but can he put together a solid first start in a very tough situation?

Can the Bulldog defense force Arch Manning into mistakes?

Mississippi State will face yet another Manning, as Arch Manning will get his second-straight start for the Longhorns. The heir to the Manning family throne has showed why the hype around him was justified in his opportunities this season. But like all young QBs, he's also shown he's got plenty more to learn. He completed just 51.7% of passes against ULM and threw two picks. Teams have been able to create some confusion for him by disguising where pressure is coming from. Can the much-maligned Bulldog defense force Manning into mistakes on Saturday? They'll need to if they're going to make this game somewhat competitive.

Does Mississippi State football show fight in Austin?

This season has been awful so far for Bulldog football. They've lost three-straight in embarrassing fashion, are without several key players, and now face the best team in the country on the road. If there was ever a "give-up" game, this could be it. Which is why more than anything, I want to see if State continues to fight. Jeff Lebby said after the loss to Florida he believes his team will continue battling. Let's see if that's actually the case.

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