9. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Week 1 Opponent: Memphis
A potential sleeper team in the SEC this season, Mississippi State begins the year ranked as the No. 9 overall team in our preseason conference rankings.
After going 4-7 in year one under head coach Mike Leach in 2020, Mississippi State enjoyed a strong season a year ago, finishing with a 7-6 record (4-4 in SEC play). This marked the first winning season for the Bulldogs since 2018, a year in which Mississippi State went 8-5.
As mentioned previously as well, if you were to look for a potential ‘sleeper’ team in the SEC this season, Mississippi State might just be your answer. Why you ask? Well, look no further than some of the returning names, in particular on offense, a group that could give any defense troubles this season.
On offense, the Bulldogs return one of SEC Football’s top quarterbacks in Will Rogers, a player who led the nation in pass completions and completion percentage a year ago, while also ranking highly in yardage and touchdowns as well. Add in returning names such as Jo’quavious Marks, Dillon Johnson, Jaden Walley, and Austin Williams, along with a solid defense, and the Bulldogs have all the potential to be a team that could make some noise in the SEC this season.
As for week one, the Bulldogs will host Memphis in what is a rematch from a year ago where Mississippi State fell on the road 31-29. This game could be close once again, but the Bulldogs should leave with the win.