Mississippi State’s 23-15 loss to Oklahoma did more than sting in the standings. It knocked the Bulldogs backward in several of the numbers that have defined their season, and the slide comes at a bad time with Saturday’s trip to Texas looming.
The clearest dip came on offense. Mississippi State entered last week ranked No. 22 nationally in total offense, averaging 454.3 yards per game. That mark had been built on a fast start that included quality Power Four wins over Minnesota, South Carolina, and Missouri, plus a competitive first half against Alabama and a rough outing against LSU.
But the 15-point performance against Oklahoma, along with 352 total yards, pushed the Bulldogs down to No. 31 nationally. They’re now averaging 439.7 yards per game, a drop of 14.6 yards.
Third down has also gone south. Before the Oklahoma game, Mississippi State ranked No. 28 nationally and No. 5 in the SEC by converting 37 of 78 attempts, good for 47.4%. After going 1 of 11 against the Sooners, the Bulldogs are now 38 of 89 overall, or 42.7%, which leaves them No. 49 nationally and No. 8 in the SEC.
The turnover battle has been another problem, especially during the current three-game losing streak. Coming into last week, State had five takeaways and eight giveaways for a minus-0.50 turnover margin per game, which ranked No. 103 in the country.
After forcing one Oklahoma turnover and giving the ball away twice, the Bulldogs moved to six takeaways and 10 giveaways. That dropped their margin to minus-0.57 per game and sent them to No. 113 nationally.
Protection up front remains shaky, too. Mississippi State has now allowed 21 sacks after surrendering four to Oklahoma. Its average of 3.00 sacks allowed per game ranks No. 126 nationally and No. 15 in the SEC.
The pass defense is another glaring issue. Against Texas and Arch Manning’s offense, the Bulldogs will have to deal with a unit that currently ranks No. 128 nationally and last in the SEC against the pass, allowing 267.4 passing yards per game.
If Mississippi State wants any shot at a Top 25 finish and a better bowl outlook, that’s the kind of number that has to change fast.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Heads To Texas With One Upset Question Looming
Mississippi State heads to Austin on Oct. 31 with a fresh layer of uncertainty at quarterback after Kamario Taylors season-ending foot injury forced the Bulldogs to reshuffle the position. Billy Puckett or AJ Swann is expected to get the nod, giving Mississippi State a very different look as it prepares to face a top-15 Texas team on the road.
Arch Manning will make his third career start for the Longhorns, who remain favored even with key players sidelined by injuries of their own. For Mississippi State, the challenge is bigger than just matching up with a ranked opponent - it is about finding stability quickly enough to keep the game within reach. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Enters Texas Test With One Huge Question Unsettled
Mississippi State heads into its first game since Kamario Taylor underwent season-ending foot surgery with the quarterback spot suddenly back at center stage. With Taylor out, Billy Puckett and A.J. Swann are battling for the start against Texas, and the Bulldogs have kept the competition close enough that the answer will not come until late Saturday.
For a team trying to reset on the fly, the timing adds another layer to a tough road trip. Texas brings its own intrigue with Arch Manning, who has flashed enough this season to keep people watching even if he has not fully lived up to the early hype, so Mississippi States weekend storyline is as much about its own uncertainty as the opponent on the other side. [Read more 🡒]
Fluff Bothwell Faces A Brutal Test In Mississippi States Texas Matchup
Mississippi States offense heads into its Texas matchup with a lot of the usual Week 9 uncertainty, and the focus naturally falls on how the Bulldogs might try to create room for Fluff Bothwell on the ground. The freshman has been one of the more watchable pieces of the attack, but the larger DFS picture around this game points toward a setup that could make life difficult for any running back trying to find steady production.
Recent trends, target shares and game-script concerns all lean in the same direction, with the matchup itself adding another layer of resistance for Bothwell. Mississippi State has also been navigating personnel questions around Kamario Taylor, and Bothwells own health has been part of the conversation this month, which only adds to the uncertainty surrounding how much of a workload he can realistically carry in this spot. [Read more 🡒]