After playing tough SEC West opponents in three of their last four times out, the Bulldogs finally get a little bit of a break with their Week 6 matchup against Troy.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said in his weekly press conference on Monday that the Bulldogs can’t take the Trojans lightly, and if they don’t play their best they could lose.

“Going to be a good challenge for us,” Mullen said. “If you don’t come out and play well, you aren’t going to win. We have to improve.”

Some of that might have been coach speak from Mullen because Troy is a 1-3 team from the Sun Belt Conference. To be fair, two of those losses came to Wisconsin and NC State, but that means the Bulldogs’ meeting with the Trojans presents a good opportunity for Mississippi State to make necessary corrections and build some confidence.

Troy’s biggest strength is arguably its run defense, which has only allowed three runs of 20 yards or more, tied for 16th in the FBS. Mississippi State wants to run the ball but is only averaging 155 yards per game, 11th in the SEC. This could be another game where Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott is asked to air it out early and often.

Mississippi State has blown out the other two non-conference teams it has faced so far this season by a combined score of 96-29. The Bulldogs will look to assert the same level of dominance over Troy on Saturday afternoon in Starkville.

TROY TROJANS CLOSER LOOK

Top offensive player: Brandon Burks, Sr. RB — Burks ranks eighth on Troy’s career rushing list and has recorded six 100-yard rushing games in his time with the Trojans. He ripped off 124 yards on the ground in Troy’s season-opener against NC State, so Burks has shown he can perform against a Power 5 defense already this year. Through Troy’s first four games this season, Burks has averaged 4.4 yards per carry and has 3 touchdowns.

Top defensive player: Tyler Roberts, Sr. DE — Roberts plays the bandit position for the Trojans and was named to the Lombardi Watch List in the preseason for being one of the best down linemen in the country. Roberts has just 1.5 sacks so far this season and has yet to bust out for a big game. But if he were to do so in a showdown with an SEC team, that would make a serious statement toward earning the Lombardi Award at year’s end.

Top special teams player: Teddy Ruben, Sr. PR — Ruben is the Trojans’ top receiver this season with 17 receptions for 197 yards and 2 touchdowns but is perhaps an even more dangerous weapon as a return man. Ruben’s 2 punt returns of 30 yards or more are good for 4th-most in the country. He is averaging 17.3 yards per punt return and has already taken one 64 yards to the house.