Takeaways after Mississippi State football is blown to smithereens by Arkansas

On Friday, the AP Stylebook "X" account posted some "advice" for sports writers and fans to adjust the hyperbolic language we like to use when discussing sports. They were, rightfully, roasted for such a preposterous and snobbish take, and I'd like to take this opportunity to ignore the very first of their unsolicited suggestions.

Because that loss for Mississippi State football was inarguably a disaster.

Mississippi State came into today's game with Arkansas having played their best football of the year, and there was legitimate hope that against an improved but flawed Razorbacks squad they might finally have a breakthrough performance and snap their losing streak.

The only thing that broke today was the spirits of Bulldog fans still holding out hope for a promising close to this abysmal season...and probably several cowbells in the stands of Davis Wade Stadium that were slammed against the bleachers.

Arkansas stole Mississippi State's lunch money in route to a 58-25 victory. The Bulldog defense was embarrassingly awful, and the offense made two many mistakes to have any chance at keeping pace with the Hogs. Any positive momentum that had been gained in recent solid performances has been totally erased.

In the words of late former Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green, "they are who we thought they were", and that's bad.

There's nothing left to say for this defense

Arkansas came into today averaging 356.3 yards and 17.5 points in SEC play. Mississippi State allowed them to put up 673 yards and 58 points.

State's defense has been awful all season, and today was just the icing on the cake. There's no defending it (because there's no defending happening on the field *ba dum tiss*). We know there's bad talent on that side of the ball. We know there's injuries. But we also know there's no excusing this.

Changes must be made.

It's impossible to blame refs after allowing 58 points, but the Bulldogs have a right to be frustrated

Because I know someone's still going to respond with "how can you possibly blame the refs", I'm going to once again make very clear that in no way am I blaming officials in a game where State allowed 58 on defense and made far too many mistakes on offense (5 turnovers, two failed 4th downs, and a missed FG) to even come close to suggesting the final outcome was altered by officiating. It was not.

However, State fans have a right to be frustrated after three potential Bulldog TDs went uncalled by the refs. The first was the most egregious. Seydou Traore scored on that 3rd and Goal. He just did. It's insane that call wasn't overturned, and it's insane the ball wasn't spotted closer. The second and third plays are debatable, but they easily could've ruled Traore as having gotten in on that long reception. And we never got a clear angle showing that Daniels fumbled before the ball crossed the goal line.

Does any of this matter when the defense wasn't getting stops? Nope. But perhaps there's a different game flow or at a minimum feel to the game if things are ruled differently.

The time for finding silver-linings in this Mississippi State football season is officially over

For as bad as this year has been, over the last three games, State fans were finally able to find a few things to take solace in and be optimistic for the future. That's over with.

State's offense still has exciting moments. They've got weapons, and Michael Van Buren is a guy you can build around. You saw some of that again today. But showing flashes on one side of the ball and it not amounting to anything can only appease the masses for so long before you finally reach your threshold for pain.

State needed a win today. They needed it to keep the team locked-in. They needed it to keep the fanbase invested in this season. Instead, to use that word again, they put a disaster on the field.