Following a 45-28 loss to Florida last week and a season-ending shoulder injury to quarterback Blake Shapen, Mississippi State (1-3, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) visits No. 1 Texas (4-0) on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network. The Longhorns will be playing their first-ever conference game as SEC members after moving from the Big 12 along with Oklahoma.
Here are five keys for the Bulldogs in their first meeting with Texas since the 1999 Cotton Bowl.
Protect the quarterback
Whether it’s true freshman Michael Van Buren or redshirt freshman Chris Parson in the game, MSU lacks experience at the game’s most important position. The Longhorns have played conservatively on defense for most of the season, but they will be sure to take advantage of the Bulldogs’ youth behind center and dial up pressure packages.
That means the Bulldogs’ offensive linemen need to sustain their blocks, running backs will also need to block well on pass plays and head coach Jeff Lebby needs to install some easy throws for Van Buren and Parson, like screens and quick hitters to the outside. MSU doesn’t need to completely overhaul the offense, but the coaches do need to make sure not to shatter the quarterbacks’ confidence.
Get off the field on third down
Texas’ offense can and will strike quickly, with the ability to generate explosive plays on the ground and through the air. Any time the Bulldogs have a chance to get the ball back to their offense, it is vital that they do so. For MSU to have any hope of winning this game, or even remaining competitive, the Bulldogs will need to keep the Longhorns’ offense on the sidelines. That also means sustaining drives of their own by avoiding sacks and penalties and staying ahead of the chains.
Win the turnover battle
Massive upsets almost always involve the winning team recovering a few fumbles or making a few interceptions while playing mistake-free football on the other side of the ball. The turnover MSU forced last week against Florida — when sophomore safety Isaac Smith’s hit knocked the ball loose and redshirt freshman cornerback Kelley Jones recovered it — was just the Bulldogs’ second takeaway of the season.
Arch Manning, who is likely to start at quarterback for Texas, did throw two interceptions last week against Louisiana-Monroe, so MSU may have to count on him making a few more mistakes. Smith, the Bulldogs’ best defensive player, left the Florida game with an injury in the third quarter but was listed as probable on this week’s initial injury report.
Win in the red zone
Another ingredient for a major upset: taking advantage of scoring chances in the red zone and stopping the other team from doing so. MSU was dreadful in this regard against the Gators, allowing Florida to score touchdowns on all five trips inside the 20-yard line and turning the ball over on downs just shy of the goal line early in the fourth quarter.
Finding the end zone when they’re moving the ball is critical for the Bulldogs, as is holding the Longhorns to field goals or, better yet, stopping them from scoring entirely.
Stay as healthy as possible
MSU is already without its starting quarterback, its top running back and at least one key player on the defensive line. Leaving Austin with no more serious injuries would be a victory in and of itself. Kalvin Dinkins remains out and Kedrick Bingley-Jones is questionable on the defensive line, with safety Chris Keys also questionable. The Bulldogs do have a bye week coming up to get healthy, but after that is a trip to No. 2 Georgia.
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