Mississippi State’s bye week comes at the right time, because the Bulldogs have more to sort through than just the 56-23 loss to Alabama.
Yes, the injuries matter. Quarterback Kamario Taylor is still day-to-day after Jeff Lebby’s postgame update.
Running back Fluff Bothwell finished Saturday in a walking boot. Linebacker Jalen Smith also exited hurt.
But with Mississippi State sitting at 4-1 and headed to LSU next, the open week is also a chance to figure out who else can help if those situations linger.
A few Bulldogs made a case against Alabama for more than just spot duty.
Parker Puckett got the first real crack at quarterback relief work when Taylor left, and the redshirt freshman didn’t waste the opportunity. He went 3 of 6 for 26 yards and kept one late drive alive with a 9-yard completion on third down.
That sequence came after Alabama had already seized control, so it doesn’t tell the whole story about how he’d handle a start. Even so, it gave the staff something to work with while Taylor’s status stays unsettled.
“It will be day to day for him,” Lebby said of Taylor, according to Carion Ledger reporter Sam Sklar. Lebby also pointed to the LSU game week injury report, due Oct. 14, for a clearer picture.
The backfield needs attention, too. Kolin Wilson led Mississippi State on the ground with 27 yards on 10 carries, including a 13-yard run.
With Bothwell leaving after just one carry, Wilson’s work became even more important on a day when the run game never really got going. Xavier Gayten added 10 yards on 10 carries, and Wilson finished with more yards than the rest of the Bulldogs’ running backs combined.
His 2.7-yard average shows there’s plenty to clean up, but the bye gives Mississippi State time to build a plan without assuming Bothwell will be unavailable in Baton Rouge.
At tight end, Joeseph Skipworth quietly helped keep the offense moving. He caught three passes for 26 yards, and two of those receptions came on third down.
One 10-yard catch on third and 16 forced fourth and 6, and Anthony Evans III turned that into a 45-yard touchdown on the next play. Skipworth later picked up another third down with a 9-yard catch from Puckett on third and 4.
For an offense dealing with uncertainty at quarterback, those are the kinds of snaps that can earn a bigger role.
On defense, Kendel Dolby also flashed enough to merit a longer look. The Oklahoma transfer, who arrived with 68 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions on his resume, made four tackles against Alabama and recovered the fumble forced by Jaray Bledsoe. That takeaway led to a touchdown on the next snap while Mississippi State was still trying to close the gap.
Mississippi State gave up 483 yards, so the defensive rotation is going to be part of the conversation during the break as well. The injury list and the depth chart both need a review before the Bulldogs head to Baton Rouge.
In Other News...
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A surprising AP ballot has given Mississippi State fans something to chew on again after the Bulldogs loss to Alabama and their consensus spot at No. 17. AP voter Greg Luca placed Mississippi State at No. 10 in the latest poll, a mark that stands well above where the public rankings have the Bulldogs and far ahead of what most observers expected after that defeat.
Luca has said he takes a week-to-week clean-slate approach and leans heavily on head-to-head results when comparing one-loss SEC teams, which helped shape his placement. The gap between his ballot and the overall AP Poll has already sparked criticism on social media, and it adds another layer to the ongoing debate over how much weight recent results should carry in a crowded SEC race. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi States Heisman Buzz Suddenly Feels Fragile After Alabama
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For Mississippi State, the appeal is obvious: a quarterback getting mentioned in the same breath as some of the sports biggest stars is the kind of momentum that can change a seasons feel overnight. But with Alabama now in the mix and the national spotlight only getting harsher, Taylors Heisman case suddenly looks far less secure than it did a week ago, and the Bulldogs know the coming stretch will tell whether this is lasting traction or just an early-season flash. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Just Got A Brutal Reminder Of The Alabama Gap
Mississippi State ran into a sharp reminder of just how deep Alabamas roster can go in a 56-23 loss, the kind of game that left the Bulldogs chasing answers well before the final whistle. It was not just the usual stars doing damage, either. Alabama spread the recognition around after the win, with several players earning conference weekly honors for their work on both sides of the ball.
Keelon Russell, Josh Ford, JD Martin, Xavier Griffin, Dijon Lee Jr., Torin Craig and the defensive line all landed player of the week recognition, while Lorcan Quinn and Cooper Mollison were honored for special teams. For Mississippi State, the takeaway was less about a single matchup and more about the wider gap it still has to close if it wants to compete with a Tide team that can keep rolling out impact performances from all over the field. [Read more 🡒]