The SEC spent Week 2 looking the part, but Mississippi State was the team that made the loudest statement.
While the league went 5-2 against non-conference Power Four opponents, the Bulldogs produced the most convincing result of the bunch, rolling into Minnesota and leaving with a 38-13 win. They did plenty of damage early, piling up points in the first half and making the game feel out of reach before Minnesota could settle in.
That performance didn’t just turn heads locally. It drew notice from college football media, including the CBS Sports college football panel. Former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said SEC teams need to treat Mississippi State like a real problem from here on out.
"They're at South Carolina next week," Neuheisel said. "I promise LaNorris Sellers and Shane Beamer are going to be looking at this film going 'we had better be ready.' That was an excellent football team."
What stood out most in Minneapolis was how complete Mississippi State looked on both sides of the ball. Kamario Taylor wasted little time attacking downfield, connecting with his receivers early and repeatedly. The Bulldogs’ top three wideouts all landed at least one catch of 25 yards or more, and Anthony Evans III was the headliner with seven receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown.
The ground game was just as sharp. In a veer-and-shoot offense, that part of the attack has to hum, and Mississippi State had it humming. Fluff Bothwell led the way with 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Taylor added 86 yards on quarterback runs.
But the defensive showing may have been the most encouraging piece for Mississippi State. Drake Lindsey still threw for 279 yards, yet Minnesota’s early trouble on the ground changed the shape of the game.
As the Golden Gophers were pushed away from their run game, the offense became easier to manage. Minnesota’s only touchdown came on a defensive fumble recovery in the end zone.
Taylor’s rise has been a major talking point all offseason around the SEC, and he keeps backing up the hype. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback is the highest-rated recruit in Mississippi State history, and through two weeks he has looked like a player who can pair big-play ability with control under pressure.
That’s the challenge waiting this weekend in Columbia, where Taylor goes head-to-head with LaNorris Sellers at Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. EDT on SEC Network.
Sellers, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound third-year starter, has flashed real ability over his first two seasons, even if the production hasn’t always matched the talent. South Carolina has dealt with offensive inconsistency and shaky line play, which has limited what he can do at times.
He was sharp in the opener against Kent State, going 19-of-23 for 270 yards and three touchdowns. Then heavy rain against Towson changed the script, and he leaned on his legs, rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown in a 45-9 win.
Now Mississippi State arrives as South Carolina’s first true test of the season.
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