Mississippi State Football: Are the underdog Hail State Bulldogs being overlooked?

You’ve been hearing the same song and dance for months now: Alabama is going to win the national championship, Bryce Young or CJ Stroud are going to win the Heisman Trophy, and Tennessee is back where it should be. You’ve also been hearing zero talk about Mississippi State Football, who currently sits at 5-2.

Historically, if you look at Mike Leach’s coaching history, teams begin to turn the corner in his third or fourth year with the school. In his third year at Texas Tech in 2002, Leach led the Red Raiders to a 9-5 record (5-3 in Big 12 play). In his fourth year at Washington State, 9-4.

Although it was a much slower turn at Washington State, the program was arguably in shambles compared to the state Texas Tech and Mississippi State Football were when he’s taken over these programs. And considering the Bulldogs went 7-6 in only Leach’s second year at the helm in 2021, expect even bigger things this year.

MSU returned eight starters from last year on each side of the ball. Most importantly some may say, all starting receivers from last year are back. And that bodes well for an air raid offense.

Not only are the receivers back, but so is Will Rogers. This is the junior quarterback’s second season as the full-time starter after starting in six games and appearing in nine as a freshman. The in-state recruit from Brandon, Mississippi helped the Bulldogs to a nine-win season finishing third in the FBS in total passing yards with 4,739, and led the SEC in passing yards per game with 364.5. Rogers’ passing yards were third-most in SEC single-season history.

Is Mississippi State Football being overlooked?

So why isn’t this team being talked about? Why are they seen as the maroon and white stepchild? One can speculate that it’s the lack of “star power.” But that’s just how Mike Leach likes it. If you look historically at Mike Leach coached teams, the only very well-known player he’s coached that will immediately come to mind for most is Michael Crabtree, a former Texas Tech University and San Francisco 49er receiver. Leach rarely goes after stars, but rather players that fit his system, and it’s proven fruitful, especially after a few seasons. And that’s exactly where the Bulldogs are now.

With a team that relies heavily on scoring points and airing the ball out, a proven second year starter at quarterback that knows Leach’s system historically points to success for the Bulldogs this season under Leach. And the fact that they’re not being talked about may help this team.

But be ready for that to change very fast now that the Bulldogs have started the season 5-2, and head into a primetime showdown with Alabama this Saturday night.

With victories naturally comes attention. One form of attention could be Heisman Trophy talk for Rogers, and don’t put it past him to give it a run. In the past, Mike Leach has had quarterbacks that have performed well as far as numbers go, and some even with Heisman conversation. However, none played in the spotlight of the SEC which Rogers has going for him.

Nationally televised games and fan bases much more drawn to the eastern half of the United States than west coast schools like Washington State bode well for Rogers in the Heisman department as well. And just like Leach’s coaching record, his starting quarterbacks always improve in their second year as well. Considering Rogers’ stats last year, that’s a scary thing for any defenses that face the Bulldogs.

Hail State.