Mississippi State got back on the winning track last weekend by dominating a hapless BYU team. Now a better test comes to town as 5-1 Kentucky rolls into Starkville looking to beat MSU for the second consecutive season.

This weekend’s game could be the most crucial game of the season for the Bulldogs. Win here and the backend of the season sets up well for a bowl run. Losing this game means Mississippi State would have to win two conference games on the road to likely have a shot at a .500 record in SEC play.

Here’s what Dan Mullen had to say about the Kentucky game during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference:

  • Opening statement: “Great to be back home after having a month away from home. We played well last week, homefield is critical in this league.”
  • On developing QBs, how long does it take you know if you have the guy? “That’s tough. Every guy is different. When you see glimpses then you have to go work on that. You also have to see what he doesn’t do well and work on that. It’s constant development throughout their career. Some guys pick it up faster than others.”
  • Thoughts on DC Todd Grantham? “He has us playing with that aggressive edge that I like and expect us to play with. He is putting our players in a position to be successful. He is making sure we are doing that. Even if he gets out of his comfort zone to fit our personnel.”
  • Thoughts on playing so many road night games, should there be rules in place preventing that? “That’s a heck of a deal. One of the hardest things is getting in at 3 am or 4 am is something we want for our student-athletes. I think we should be cautious when scheduling those. TV pays for a lot of things but the league should try and help protect the players at the same time.”