STARKVILLE — For the first time since the initial College Football Playoff Rankings were unveiled more than three weeks ago, the Mississippi State football team won’t know where the playoff committee will slot the Bulldogs when it announces its rankings at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
That’s because after sitting atop the playoff rankings, The Associated Press Top 25, and the Amway Coaches Poll (USA Today) for more than a month, MSU has fallen from its perch due to a 25-20 loss at Alabama.
After the loss, MSU’s first in more than a calendar year, the Bulldogs were asked repeatedly about their chances to remain in playoff contention.
“I think we deserve to be there, but I’m not really thinking about that,” said MSU quarterback Dak Prescott, who had just thrown for 290 yards and two touchdowns while also tossing three interceptions against then-No. 5 Alabama. “My focus is on rebounding from this loss, taking what happened out here today and getting better for it.”
While Prescott said all the right things, national observers watched Sunday’s release of the two major polls with great interest as a litmus test to how far the Bulldogs might fall when Tuesday rolls around.
So far, the early returns look promising.
At 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, the Coaches Poll was released, and MSU had slipped just three spots to No. 4, settling in behind new No. 1 Florida State, No. 2 Alabama, and No. 3 Oregon.
Two hours later, The Associated Press Top 25 was released, and the top four was identical to that of the coaches poll, as MSU dropped just three places in the pecking order to land at No. 4, one spot ahead of No. 5 TCU.
While the playoff committee’s rankings haven’t been in lockstep with the other polls each week, MSU’s short fall could bode well for the team’s playoff chances.
Perhaps more critical to MSU’s postseason hopes, though, will be the ability to bounce back from the setback in Tuscaloosa. It’s the first time this season that the Bulldogs will have to rebound from a loss.
“There were two great football teams out there today, out there battling,” said MSU coach Dan Mullen. “Absolutely I think those were two of the best teams in the country out there on that field. We will have to take this, be sick about it tonight, and be ready to move on tomorrow.”
The Bulldogs are now searching for a way to respond due to a mistake-free, business-like effort turned in by Alabama, which forced three turnovers and held MSU’s offense, the most prolific in the Southeastern Conference, to just 20 points, and only three in the first half.
The three turnovers proved crucial for the Crimson Tide, who built a 19-0 lead and held on for dear life as MSU fought back in the second half. The Bulldogs cut the gap to 19-13 on the second play of the fourth quarter, but two interceptions thrown by Prescott spelled doom for the Bulldogs.
Statistically, MSU compared favorably, outgaining the Crimson Tide 435 to 328 in total yards. But Prescott’s miscues made the early 19-0 deficit impossible to overcome, and Alabama escaped with its seventh straight victory in the series. Mullen, now 45-29 as MSU’s coach in six seasons, is 0-6 against Alabama.
“I thought our guys played well,” said Mullen. “Our guys were fired up and ready to go make plays and I thought we did that. Those are two of the best teams in the country out there battling and there’s absolutely no doubt about that. Those are two of the best teams in the country out there battling at football and it was a great game. I give them credit for making the plays the needed to win.”
After the game, though, MSU’s players were asked repeatedly about the team’s playoff chances.
“Hopefully, but you know, we’re not really worried about it,” MSU sophomore linebacker Beniquez Brown said. “We have to just come out next week and get better and beat Vanderbilt. If it’s meant for us to make it, then we will.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat.
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