Here’s a couple grades after Mississippi State’s 38-23 to Auburn:
OFFENSE: B
When you can score 38 points and dominate the defending SEC champions thanks to a rocket-fast start and execution down the stretch, no one’s going to complain about overall offensive production. Dak Prescott went over 100 yards rushing for the fourth time this season and tossed his 14th touchdown pass, but two interceptions nullified potential scoring drives. One pass was under-thrown in the corner of the end zone, the other misplaced near the sideline on a back-shoulder play. Four total turnovers for Mississippi State was a season high, but the Bulldogs ability to follow the game plan with Prescott and Josh Robinson’s success between the tackles proved to be enough.
DEFENSE: B+
Mississippi State’s front seven won this game, disrupting Auburn’s rhythmic rushing attack with relentless push up front. The Bulldogs kept big plays to a minimum and forced turnovers when given opportunity. The Tigers turned it over on each of their first two snaps, both leading to touchdowns.
COACHING: A
There’s no coach in the country who had his team better prepared to play Saturday than Dan Mullen who is all the sudden the game’s hottest sideline leader. The fired up Bulldogs jumped out to a three-touchdown lead behind his teachings as Mississippi State once again dominated the first 15 minutes of a game against a Top 10 team (for the third straight week). Mullen’s fake punt call from his own 28 late in the opening frame was a serious gamble, but it’s tough to argue when almost every other decision he’s made has worked out beautifully.
OVERALL: A-
Without question, Mississippi State has fooled most preseason poll voters through six games and has performed as college football’s best heading into its second bye week of the season. There’s no glaring weakness for the Bulldogs and like Mullen said post-game, “every time we needed to make a play, a guy stepped up and made a play. We always wondered how to take the next step in this league … that’s it.” The Bulldogs are built to last, appear to be this season’s Cinderella and should be the College Football Playoff favorite with only two games against ranked teams (Alabama, Ole Miss) the rest of the way.
