Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops faces another tough challenge this week. After falling 41-3 at LSU in Week 8, the Wildcats host No. 1 Mississippi State at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday. Stoops commented on the matchup during his weekly press conference Monday.

“Another great challenge this week, playing the No. 1 team in the country,” Stoops said. “We will have our hands full and need to play a whole lot better. So, again, need to get back out there and improve this week on the practice field.”

Mississippi State is led by junior quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott is a Heisman frontrunner and has 1,478 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions on 96-of-156 passing, while also rushing for 576 yards and eight touchdowns on 106 attempts.

“Physically, good looking guy, strong, leader, tough, just everything you want in your quarterback and in particular with what they do, with the dual threat and putting that stress on you,” Stoops said of Prescott.

Mississippi State is the surprise team of the 2014 season, going from unranked in the preseason to No. 1 in Week 8. However, Stoops said that the Bulldogs’ success shouldn’t come as a surprise given their talent and coaching staff.

“If you look at their quarterback and their team it’s not a real big surprise. They’re a very talented football team.  You could tell they had a lot of confidence coming into the season just by the way they carried themselves at SEC Media (Days), just listening to them with their quarterback and leadership. Dan [Mullen] is in sixth year in the process and they have a good looking team.

“I noticed that a year ago. I noticed how big they were and how long and just, you know, they’re developed. They do a great job of coaching, and good things are    it’s coming together for them. They’re playing red hot and it starts with their quarterback.  He’s as talented of a guy as there is in the country.  He can run it, he can throw it.  He’s making great decisions and their offense puts stress on you. Like I said at the beginning of the statement, they’re well coached, they put stress on you across the board.”