Here are the 5 biggest takeaways from Mississippi State’s win over Auburn that pushed the Bulldogs to No. 1 in both major polls:

  • Dan Mullen has been college football’s top coach this season: Navigating through a treacherous schedule along with getting the Bulldogs ready to perform at maximum level over the last month has been an admirable feat for this program’s leader. Not only has Mississippi State dominated with a bullseye on its back over the last two games, but the Bulldogs have kept pace — and surpassed — Magnolia State rival Ole Miss in the polls. History’s been made in Starkville and much of that success falls on the shoulders of this program’s sixth-year coach.
  • Josh Robinson should be a household name by this point: There’s plenty of Dak Prescott to go around as three SEC defenses have already seen this season, but Robinson’s the unsung hero on this offense, one of college football’s most balanced. Averaging 7 yards per carry, Robinson’s the league’s leader in rushing yards for active players and is behind only Jonathan Williams in rushing touchdowns (9). He has ascended into the Heisman race for the SEC’s best team.
  • Mississippi State’s secondary isn’t as bad as the numbers reflect: Pass defense is the fatal flaw for the Bulldogs … or is it? Big plays earlier this season against UAB and late production from Texas A&M during a blowout win skewed the numbers a bit, but the secondary’s not as bad as it looks — last in the SEC at 308.3 passing yards allowed per game. Predicated by pressure, the Bulldogs have come through when it’s counted against ranked teams with six interceptions in three contests. Four of eight touchdown passes given up during the stretch have come when the margin’s been lopsided in the fourth quarter, a result of soft coverage in the final three minutes.
  • De’Runnya Wilson’s drawn Megatron comparisons and rightfully so: Several have mentioned Mississippi State’s 6-foot-5, 225-pound sophomore in the same breath as Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson and the conversation’s valid. Wilson’s a matchup nightmare for average-sized defensive backs, can break tackles with his strength and has next-level leap-and-catch ability when the ball’s in the air. Jameon Lewis received much of the preseason love as the SEC’s top returning wideout, but Wilson’s the true star of this offense on the outside. Wilson’s scored a touchdown in every game this season, but hasn’t yet eclipsed the 100-yard mark with limited targets.
  • The Bulldogs’ defense lives behind the line of scrimmage: Through six games, Mississippi State leads the SEC in tackles-for-loss (48) and sacks (21). Against Auburn, the Bulldogs tackled well and disrupted Nick Marshall’s rhythm in the wide-open zone read attack. It’s a challenging offense to scheme against, but the plan Geoff Collins had in place produced three turnovers that changed momentum and led to points for the Tigers. The fourth turnover, a fumble on a kickoff return, sealed the win.