We’ve made it.
After months of quiet and outside anticipation, we’re finally going to get our first look at Mississippi State football through the words of Jeff Lebby at SEC Media Days.
Lebby is set to take the stage at 12:30 Thursday, fielding his first set of questions heading into his third year. Here are some questions around MSU’s football program that you could expect to be asked of Lebby.
How do you make another jump?
Lebby’s second year in Starkville was a success.
After a 2-10 first season, Lebby got the Bulldogs to 5-7, a win against then top-15 Arizona State, his first SEC win against Arkansas and a spot (albeit a win short of the usually required six) in a bowl game.
Now the pressure’s on.
MSU enters the third year of the Lebby area with a quarterback with a lot of hype, its leading rusher from last season and after addressing its poor defensive performance last season with a new defensive coordinator.
In his third year, which usually proves to be a valuable metric in determining a coach’s long-term success at a program, how does Lebby make another jump?
Thoughts on the nine-game conference schedule?
Maybe these first two questions oughta be asked in the same breath, because MSU’s first nine-game SEC schedule is going to make it tough for Lebby to take a jump in record.
The Bulldogs will play four of the SEC’s top-5 teams from last season, and have road dates with Texas and a new-look LSU. Just two of MSU’s conference opponents finished below six wins last season.
Sheesh.
The nine-game conference schedule also infringes on MSU’s ability to fill up on cupcakes. The Bulldogs had three wins against teams below the Power 4 ranks last year, and picked up another of its five wins in the non-conference against Arizona State. The Bulldogs will be heavily favored against Tennessee Tech and Louisiana-Monroe, but its third conference game is a tough road test at Minnesota.
What’s it like working with Zach Arnett?
If you don’t know the Zach Arnett story, let me give you the rundown.
Arnett served as MSU’s defensive coordinator from 2020-22. After the unexpected death of Mike Leach, Arnett was elevated to head coach at 36 years old. MSU canned Arnett in his first year after a 4-6 start and in the midst of a three-game losing streak. MSU hired Jeff Lebby in his place. Lebby brought Arnett back to Starkville as his defensive coordinator this offseason.
Anybody else think it could be awkward to be the boss of the guy whose job you took? Whatever their working relationship is, Lebby desperately needs Arnett to improve a defense that mightily struggled last year.
MSU’s defense was ranked second-to-last in scoring in the SEC last season. Its inability to stop SEC offenses was especially exposed in the Bulldogs’ seven-point home losses to Texas and Tennessee, where the dueling UTs both put up more than 40 points in what could have been the biggest wins in the Lebby era.
MSU’s offense is expected to score, especially with the inauguration of Kamario Taylor as its starter, but it needs better defensive production.
Speaking of Taylor….
How do you feel Kamario Taylor is handling the pressure?
“Kamario Taylor, who nobody’s really heard that much about at Mississippi State. This guy could be the truth… he is really really good” – Nick Saban, Wednesday, speaking on the depth of SEC quarterbacks on SEC Now.
If the expectations weren’t high enough for the Macon, Mississippi product, high praise from the best to ever do it should help.
Taylor showed flashes throughout the 2025 season, making plays with his legs and starting the final two games of the season. It’s his offense now, and the acclaim from fans and pundits has put the pressure on Taylor to succeed immediately.
He’s 6’ 4, 230 pounds and has all the tools to succeed at the highest level of college football, but how does Lebby feel Taylor is handling the pressure on his shoulders?
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
