Mississsippi State (5-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) was not ranked in this week’s AP Top 25 or coaches polls.
But the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2021 season told a different story.
The Bulldogs came in at No. 17, a good sign their résumé trumps their record through eight games this year.
Mississippi State is coming off a 31-17 upset of AP No. 12 Kentucky on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs also beat AP No. 15 Texas A&M 26-22 on Oct. 2 in College Station and beat NC State — now ranked No. 22 in the coaches poll — 24-10 on Sept. 11.
The Bulldogs also have wins over Louisiana Tech and Vanderbilt and have lost to Memphis, LSU and Alabama.
The Crimson Tide are No. 2 in the CFP rankings, while Georgia came in at No. 1.
The Nos. 13-19 slots are occupied by a lot of familiar faces for Mississippi State. Auburn, whom the Bulldogs will face at 11 a.m. Nov. 13, is No. 13; Texas A&M is No. 14.
Ole Miss, which will come to Starkville for the Egg Bowl at 6:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, is 16th. Kentucky and NC State occupy the two spots below the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State will travel to unranked Arkansas (5-3, 1-3 SEC) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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