Mississippi State has a new head coach.

Zach Arnett is a defensive coach, and his predecessor (Mike Leach) was an offensive coach.

Things definitely are going to be different in Starkville in 2023. They might be better, or they might be worse.

Arnett and his staff have a lot to work with, but Arnett, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to succeed Leach after Leach’s unexpected death last December, is a newcomer to this job.

It’s the start of a new era in Starkville.

The Bulldogs understandably have many questions going into this season.

Here are 10 bold predictions for Mississippi State in 2023:

1. QB on the run

State will have a rushing touchdown by a quarterback for the 1st time since 2020.

No, it won’t come from Will Rogers, whose only career rushing touchdown came in 2020, but rather from Vanderbilt transfer Mike Wright, who will spell Rogers occasionally as a dual threat.

In fact, Wright, who had 7 rushing touchdowns in 3 seasons with the Commodores, might even have multiple rushing touchdowns this season.

2. Griffin to separate himself

Lideatrick Griffin will stand alone for kickoff return proficiency.

Griffin has 2 of the 3 best single-season kickoff-return averages in school history. He averaged 32.3 yards in 2021, which is the 3rd-best total in school history. Griffin surpassed that average by 0.5 yards per return last season, tying Eric Moulds’ school record set in 1994.

This season, Griffin will have an even higher average, separating himself from Moulds atop the all-time list.

3. Less can be more

The Bulldogs plan to be more balanced on offense by having more designed runs, which means fewer passes.

But Rogers is still really accurate and more down-the-field passes will produce a higher yards-per-attempt average, which will mean a more productive offense.

It’ll just look a little different along the way.

4. Making a mark

Whatever dip Rogers’ yardage stats take will be covered by a much more robust rushing attack.

Jo’Quavious Marks will lead the way by easily becoming the 1st State runner to amass 600 rushing yards since 2019. His 582 yards last season are the current standard.

That will enable the offense to roll past the 1,062 rushing yards it had last season, which were the most since the 2,868 yards in 2019, the year before Leach arrived and installed the Air Raid offense.

5. A new target

For the 1st time in a long time, a tight end will catch a pass for the Bulldogs.

The position became extinct in Leach’s offense, but it’s back in new coordinator Kevin Barbay’s scheme.

The milestone catch could be made by 1 of 2 transfers from the teams that played for last season’s CFP national championship — Ryland Goede (Georgia) or Geor’Quarious Spivey (TCU).

Or it could be made by 1 of 2 junior-college transfers — Seydou Traore (who’s from London, of all places) or Nick Lauderdale, who’s from much closer to campus (Jackson, Mississippi).

It might even be redshirt sophomore Antonio Harmon or 1 of 2 true freshmen — Rayfield Lotten (New Orleans) or Jacarius Clayton (Tupelo, Mississippi).

Who knows? This is uncharted territory.

6. More of a team effort

Linebackers Jett Johnson (115 tackles) and Nathaniel Watson (113) are the top returning tacklers in the SEC.

But this season they will combine for barely 200 tackles.

That won’t mean a drop-off by them. It will mean a better collaborative effort in bringing down opposing ball carriers.

7. Kicking stability

State has used multiple kickers in each of the past 2 years without finding a reliable 1.

Two years ago, the Bulldogs had the worst kicking game in the SEC (14 of 25 on field goals for 56%) as Brandon Ruiz and Nolan McCord shared the field-goal duty. Things got marginally better last season, as Massimo Biscardi and Ben Raybon combined to make 12 of 17 (70.6%, ranking 10th in the SEC).

This season, UCLA transfer Nick Barr-Mira (35 of 49, 71.4% in 3 seasons) will bring stability to the field-goal department.

8. Yet another career record

Rogers already holds virtually all of State’s career passing records.

But there’s 1 major record that requires a lot more work — touchdowns accounted for in a career.

Dak Prescott (2012-15) holds the record with 114, followed by Nick Fitzgerald (2015-18) with 101.

Rogers begins the season with 83, and he will find a way to pass both Fitzgerald and Prescott.

9. State champs

The Bulldogs not only will win the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss on Thanksgiving night for a 2nd consecutive season, they also will knock off Southern Miss 5 days earlier to claim the unofficial Mississippi state championship.

10. Top newcomer

Arnett will have the best record among 1st-year head coaches in the SEC.

OK, so he only has 1 competitor for that distinction, but Auburn’s hiring of former Ole Miss and Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze attracted a lot more attention than Arnett’s promotion.

But Arnett’s team will easily qualify State for a bowl game for a 14th consecutive season.

The Bulldogs will finish 8-4.