Who saw Mississippi State coming?
Through four weeks, the Bulldogs have gone from an afterthought in the SEC to 4-0, 2-0 in conference play and No. 16 in the country. After winning just five games last season, Jeff Lebby’s team suddenly looks like one of the most dangerous teams in the SEC.
And the biggest reason has been Kamario Taylor.
Taylor has exploded onto the college football scene and is quickly becoming one of the most exciting quarterbacks in America. Against No. 19 Missouri, he threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns, including the go-ahead touchdown with under four minutes remaining in Mississippi State’s 31-24 win.
But this isn’t just the Kamario Taylor show.
Fluff Bothwell has given the Bulldogs another explosive weapon, the defense has stepped up in huge moments, and Mississippi State is actually finding ways to win close games. They aren’t just beating cupcakes either. State already owns SEC wins over South Carolina and Missouri, and its win over Mizzou snapped a 13-game home losing streak in SEC play.
Now comes the real test.
No. 7 Alabama is heading to Starkville.
Nobody expected Mississippi State to be one of the biggest games on Alabama’s early schedule, but here we are. If Taylor and the Bulldogs somehow take down the Crimson Tide, we might have to stop calling them a surprise.
At that point, Mississippi State becomes a legitimate threat in the SEC.
