Zach Arnett and Mississippi State are mired in a 2-game losing streak as No. 12 Alabama heads to town in Week 5.

Mississippi State won its first 2 games under the new head coach against SE Louisiana and Arizona before falling to LSU and South Carolina.

Alabama is coming off a 24-10 victory vs. Ole Miss. Even though there’s still some questions for the Crimson Tide to sort out, Arnett wasn’t about to provide any bulletin board material during a recent press conference.

“We find ourselves coming off back-to-back losses and we’re facing a program that probably most teams don’t want to be facing in that scenario,” Arnett said. “Alabama is playing very well right now. Obviously as talented of a program and their roster as any team in the country.”

Arnett is effusive in his praise for an Alabama defense which has allowed a combined 13 points in the last 2 victories vs. Ole Miss and South Florida.

“Defense I think they’re playing as good as anyone in the country. They’re playing lights out on defense,” Arnett said. “They are fun to watch except for the week that you have to play them.”

Meanwhile, Alabama’s offense hasn’t scored over 24 points dating back to the loss vs. Texas. However, Arnett believes Alabama is headed in the right direction on that side of the ball.

“On offense, it seems to me every week that they’re further identifying exactly what their identity is and what they do really well and how they play to their strengths,” Arnett said. “They’re still extremely talented.”

Alabama at Mississippi State is slated for a 9 p.m. EST kickoff on Saturday and will be televised on ESPN.