The media picked Mississippi State to finish at the bottom of the 2016 SEC West Division when the dust settles. That’s despite the fact that the Bulldogs are coming off the best two-year stretch in program history.

It’s true that the team will face challenges such as a particularly difficult schedule and questions at the sport’s most important position. However, as per usual, the media got it wrong. Mississippi State will not finish last in the West, and here’s why.

Depth

Mississippi State is rarely competitive for the nationwide mega recruits the way in-state rival Ole Miss is. However, the Bulldogs typically build legitimate recruiting depth at important positions, specifically at offensive line. One example is Martinas Rankin, who was rated as the top junior college offensive lineman in the Class of 2015. After redshirting last season, the Mississippi Gulf Coast CC product is poised to earn the left tackle spot. Depth and consistency translate into effective weeks of practice and the ability to roll the next man up without experiencing a massive drop-off in ability.

Unforeseen wins

During his tenure at Mississippi State, coach Dan Mullen has repeatedly found ways to sneak out wins from under the noses of unsuspecting teams. Last year, the Bulldogs victimized Arkansas in a shootout in Fayetteville. Two years ago, they jumped LSU under the lights in Baton Rouge. These sneaky wins lead to seasons that beat expectations. Many expect Ole Miss and LSU to be heavily favored at home against Mississippi State this year, but MSU is capable of handling Leonard Fournette, while the Rebels will be without Dak-killer Robert Nkemdiche, who left for the NFL. Expect the random upset, but don’t expect to know when it will happen.

Brian Johnson

Mississippi State quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson is among the sport’s rising stars. Before reaching the age of 25, Utah head coach Kyle Wittingham promoted Johnson from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator. Unfortunately for Johnson, Utah struggled to adjust to Pac-12 competition and Wittingham ultimately fired Johnson. Mullen, who recruited Johnson to Utah, jumped at the chance to hire Johnson to help transform Dak Prescott from a raw talent into a refined quarterback. Entering 2016, Johnson enters his third year in Starkville but first without Prescott. Still, the adjustment appears to be going well as the offensive-minded Johnson is a winner. Many can remember the shocking and definitive trouncing Johnson and company handed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl at the end of the 2008 season. Johnson appears to be the real deal and is worth at least one extra win in 2016.

The Wild, Wild West

The remarkably high-level competition in the West fosters immense pressure for SEC championship contenders. However, that parity provides an opportunity for other programs. Other than Alabama, each team in the West experienced at least one divisional loss last year that they should have, or at least could have, won. Last year, Mississippi State was a last-second field goal away from a big win over LSU. That early season loss devastated title hopes for the Bulldogs and impacted the rest of the year. In 2016, Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss and Auburn will feel weekly pressure to avoid that kind of loss. While the title contenders are eating one another at the top, Mississippi State can rise at least one or two spots from the bottom.

Auburn

If the past is any indicator, Auburn will do something completely unpredictable. Mississippi State is the clear choice to finish last based solely on roster strength. Auburn clearly boasts more talent coming in, and more experience coming back. However, like the late great U.S. Olympic hockey coach famously said, it’s not about the best players, it’s about the right ones. Mullen’s Bulldogs may not be capable of winning the SEC, but they should play consistently and in sync, which could easily be enough to finish ahead of a program that’s become unpredictable in recent years despite being loaded with talent.