OFFENSE: B+

The Mississippi State offense did not shy away from a nasty LSU defense in Baton Rouge, running the ball right down the Tigers’ throats time and time again in a huge upset win. The Bulldogs had hoped to remain balanced on offense, but they began to favor the run as the game progressed, gashing LSU in the run game time and time again. Quarterback Dak Prescott rushed for more than 100 yards for the third straight game, and tailback Josh Robinson had a career night, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns on only 16 carries (an average of 12.3 yards per carry). Prescott established just enough of a threat in the passing game, completing 15-of-24 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns, his third straight game with at least 200 yards through the air. The reason this grade is not an A is because of two costly turnovers, one early in the second half to pull LSU within seven points, and another late in the game, giving LSU an extra shot at a comeback win at home. The Bulldogs were great on offense at times, scoring 34 points in a night game in Death Valley, but they left some room for improvement as well.

DEFENSE: B

The Mississippi State front seven faced a difficult challenge in slowing down the LSU rushing attack Saturday night, but once again the Bulldogs rose to the occasion, limiting LSU to just 89 yards on the ground for the game. Not one single Tiger ran for more than 38 yards, and as a team the Tigers averaged fewer than three yards per carry on the evening. The LSU passing attack spearheaded a gutty comeback in the fourth quarter, as MSU was once again burned on multiple touchdowns of 30-or-more yards through the air late in the game. Aside from an interception on an LSU Hail Mary on the final play of the night, the Bulldogs failed to force a turnover, although they didn’t need one to maintain a lead for the entire game. The front seven was a force to be reckoned with, while the secondary still left something to be desired, earning the Mississippi State defense a B for its showing Saturday night.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

Big news on the special teams front (brace yourselves): Mississippi State made not one, but two field goals in the win over LSU, the team’s first two made field goals of the year. Kicker Evan Sobiesk drilled kicks from 27 and 28 yards away without a miss, and was a perfect 4-of-4 on extra points as well. For at least one week, the Bulldogs’ kicking woes are a thing of the past, as they seem to have found some consistency with Sobiesk. Punter Devon Bell played well, averaging 40 yards a punt on six punts, landing two inside the 20 yard line along with a touchback late in the game. Not much happened in the return game for either side, so a more-or-less flawless effort from the special teams is rewarded with an A this week.