The season couldn’t have started much better for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have yet to give up 10 points in any game and are averaging 50 points per contest.

But this Saturday against Kentucky, the SEC slate will begin for new head coach Joe Moorhead. The Bulldogs will have a bye in the middle of October and then face Louisiana Tech on Nov. 3, but eight of Mississippi State’s final nine games are against SEC opponents.

Moorhead sounds ready to meet the challenge of the nation’s toughest conference.

“We’re pleased with how the season’s started,” Moorhead said on The Paul Finebaum show Friday afternoon. “But we have a ton of progress to make, and certainly now, as we get into the SEC schedule, the margin of error is razor thin. You gotta bring your A-game every week.”

Moorhead also talked about the start for his quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. The senior missed the season opener because of a team-imposed suspension, but Moorhead progress has been made since his return.

“He (Fitzgerald) shook off a little bit of the rust against Kansas State,” Mississippi State’s coach said. “He was a little bit better on the ground than through the air. Had a couple touchdown passes, missed on a couple deep balls, but coach Breiner did a great job with him throughout the week, saw a bunch of progress, completed 14-of-21, couple touchdowns, ran the ball well again. So I think as the weeks progress, and we continue to see him improve, we’ll be happy with the product.”

Mississippi State will face Kentucky in Lexington at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.