STARKVILLE — Mississippi State returned from a difficult trip out west last weekend, licking its wounds after another conference defeat to a Top 15 opponent.
The Bulldogs (4-2, 0-2 SEC) are still looking for their first conference win since the 2023 season, but they have the chance to catch their breath during an open week in the schedule.
Head coach Jeff Lebby covered several topics in his address to the media on Tuesday, starting with a critical self-evaluation after a disappointing offensive display in College Station.
Complementary football
Lebby was as clear in his evaluation on Tuesday as he was after the game on Saturday – the offense has to be better.
“Offensively for us, we couldn’t get out of our own way,” he said. “The negative plays on first and second down, we averaged third and 11 on third downs, and you got no chance to go win a football game offensively when you put yourself in those situations.”
The Bulldogs were 1-10 on third downs and crossed the 50-yard line just three times against the Aggies.
The defense produced a goalline stand and an interception in the first half, and kept the game within reach until the fourth quarter. The special teams unit was clean as well, with several booming punts from Ethan Pulliam and sharp coverage tackles putting the Aggies in difficult starting positions.
The odd unit out was the offense.
“That was the most frustrating part, that we had things, we felt like we were in great positions, and we did not execute,” Lebby continued. “It’s all over the tape, and we took turns doing it … as we watched the tape, it was every single position group from the second play of the game right until play 51, it was every single group offensively. Defensively, the first eight series we played winning football. Gave us the opportunity to go win. We didn’t finish the way we needed to. The sustaining part of how we need to finish games is going to be a huge piece of it.”
Reigniting the passing game
MSU quarterback Blake Shapen wore the shortcomings of the offense once again in the postgame press conference. Despite fairly accurate numbers, he threw an interception, fumbled an exchange and was sacked four times. Many of the issues stemmed from the poor play at tackle, and at one point in the game he was seen shouting at his linemen, trying to fire up the team after yet another stallout.
“It’s him continuing to control what he can control,” Lebby said when asked about his talks with Shapen. “You go back and watch the tape of Blake, he’s 15-20, he’s unbelievably accurate. He has two plays that I want back, and it was the exchange when we had the fumble on second and three, and he had the ability to dirt the ball on one of the sacks … outside of those plays, he played incredibly clean.”
Shapen’s frustrations were understandable, but since getting back to work, he has had to focus on what is within his power.
“If he’ll play like that, we’re going to have a chance to go win,” Lebby continued. “Continuing to control what he can control, inspire the 10 guys out there with him and continue to figure out exactly who it’s going to be as these front five need to play well for us as we move forward.”
Getting healthy
Lebby shared the big news that Fluff Bothwell’s injury was not as bad as initially feared, but the star running back does not yet have a return date. Davon Booth and Xavier Gayten will step up in the meantime for a rushing attack that has carried the offense in recent games, but their success will also depend on health up front.
The offensive line suffered mightily without Albert Reese IV against Texas A&M, but coaches are hoping to reevaluate him ahead of the Florida game.
Both Reese and linebacker/safety Isaac Smith were late scratches on Saturday due to injuries suffered against the Vols, but Lebby is hopeful that the pair will return to practice next Tuesday ahead of the trip to Gainesville.
Apart from them, both Jett Jefferson and Derion Gullette made returns to action in SEC play. Linebacker Malick Sylla was briefly examined in the injury tent against A&M, but quickly returned to the sideline.
Recruiting
Four three-star Bulldog recruits for the Class of 2026 decommitted on Monday, marking the start of a heavy recruiting week for Lebby and staff. It isn’t an alarming change in the landscape for MSU, but rather the result of roster evaluation as future availability for current players comes into view.
Scholarship spots are limited, and decisions on redshirts and medical exemptions have changed the staff’s planning for future open spots. A rule change proposal granting athletes five years of eligibility could still be adopted by the NCAA, and changes to junior college years counting toward Division I have opened up the possibility for return for JUCO recruits.
“There’s a lot going on from a roster standpoint, whether it’s the five-for-five piece of it as we move forward with things coming down the pipe, we’ve got to be ready to go adjust,” Lebby said. “That’s all very fluid as we’re getting closer to the December signing date.”
Lebby and his staff will be out on the road for the upcoming open weekend, visiting and scouting future Bulldog prospects before getting back to work next week for the Florida game on Oct. 18.
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