Mississippi State is staring at an Auburn team that arrives in Starkville with a 5-4 record and a clear identity on offense: everything runs through Byrum Brown.
That’s the challenge for Zach Arnett’s defense this week. Auburn’s offense has had its rough patches, and last Saturday’s game against Arkansas was one of those days when the Tigers couldn’t keep drives alive.
Still, Brown gives them a dangerous ceiling. He has thrown for 1,740 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he’s added 605 rushing yards with eight more scores on the ground.
If Mississippi State doesn’t keep tabs on him, Auburn can turn a tight game into a long afternoon in a hurry.
The Tigers also bring a ground game that still needs help. Brown is the most reliable runner in the bunch, while Jeremiah Cobb gives Auburn another option to work between the tackles and on the ground.
In the passing game, Chas Nimrod has been the main name to know. He has 42 catches for 440 yards and five touchdowns, and Auburn likes using him as a route runner who can also hit on the explosive play.
There’s another layer to this Auburn offense that Mississippi State has to respect: Alex McPherson. The kicker has already delivered game-winning kicks against Arkansas and Georgia over the past few weeks, so keeping Auburn out of field goal range matters just as much as slowing the Tigers between the 20s.
For Mississippi State, the numbers on defense tell the story of the season so far. The Bulldogs are allowing 27.8 points per game, which ranks 81st nationally, and that puts extra pressure on Arnett to find answers quickly.
Auburn has shown a tendency to stall on drives, and that may be the opening Mississippi State needs. The Bulldogs have to turn those stops into something on the other end, because Auburn is likely to hand them chances.
That’s why this matchup feels like it could settle into a low-scoring grind. A game in the 20-17 or 17-14 range fits the way both teams have been playing. And for Mississippi State, this is the kind of week that offers a real chance to finally get the monkey off their back.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Just Landed The Kind Of Recruit Fans Needed
Mississippi State picked up a notable recruiting win when LiMarcus Jones changed course from Colorado to the Bulldogs after a visit to Starkville and conversations with his family. For a program trying to build momentum on the trail, getting a commitment flip like that matters because it reflects both the pull of the place and the work being done behind the scenes.
The Bulldogs also kept widening the board with scholarship offers to Arkansas prospects Sadiq Goji, a running back, and Maurice Phillips, a tight end. Those moves feed into Mississippi States 2027 class picture as the staff keeps pushing to strengthen the pipeline and keep improving the roster after the 2026 season. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Lebbys Staff Decision Puts More Pressure On Mississippi State Finish
Jeff Lebby is keeping his staff intact for now, even as Mississippi State works through a five-game losing streak and a season that has drifted away from the start the Bulldogs wanted. The first-year head coach said he is not weighing any in-season changes, choosing instead to let the current group keep working while the team tries to steady itself over the final stretch.
Lebby did leave the door open to a broader review once the season ends, saying he will evaluate the staff then to make sure the program is moving in the right direction. For a Bulldogs team sitting at 4-5, the decision adds another layer to a finish already carrying weight, especially with Lebby still looking to build momentum in a tenure that has yet to find much of it. [Read more 🡒]