SEC Power Rankings: Missouri Making a Move
By Ben Nielsen
Oct 5, 2013; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott (15) gets hit down low by LSU Tigers cornerback Jalen Mills (28) during the game at Davis Wade Stadium. LSU Tigers defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 59-26. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
13. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Record: 2-3 (0-2)
Previous Ranking: 13
Last Week: LSU 59, Miss. State 26
This Week: vs. Bowling Green
Next Week: Bye
Kudos to the Bulldogs for putting up a great fight against LSU. MSU was a one-minute stretch in the fourth quarter away from taking LSU down to the final possession. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Mississippi State has issues getting things going in the passing game on both offense and defense. Their ground game is pretty solid as the offense is racking up over 200 yards per game in SEC play while the defense is holding the opposition to a reasonable 171.5 yards per game in conference play (6th in SEC).
But the passing game has just been brutal. MSU ranks ninth in passing offense in two conference games and dead last in defending it. Jameon Lewis and Robert Johnson are the only players with 10 or more receptions on the season for the Bulldogs, while the three quarterbacks to have played for MSU have combined for only six touchdowns and four interceptions.
Injuries are a part of it, yes. One can’t expect a consistent passing attack when three different quarterbacks have seen time this season. But other teams in the SEC have seen their quarterbacks go down and have managed to keep the offense moving. Florida and South Carolina immediately jump to mind.
MSU has two quarterbacks in their recruiting class already for 2014, though neither of them are highly rated.