Way Too Early SEC West Football Rankings

5. MSU

Dec 31, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen walks the sideline during the third quarter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2014 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets won 49-34. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The bulldogs will take a step back this year, but it won’t be as big a step back as some are predicting.

Dak Prescott is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the SEC and has an offense full of upperclassmen. Presoctt will however miss Josh Robinson and his ability to make the short catch out of the backfield.

On defense all eyes are on who will step up in the linebacker position with stars Preston Smith, Matt Wells, and Benardrick McKinney off to the NFL. Can the MSU defense find a way to replace three key guys?

Mississippi State’s schedule looks very favorable until the November 5th – 28th run of Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss. Losing early games to Auburn, LSU, or Texas A&M would kill a lot of momentum for this team, but there’s also a chance at another undefeated going into November Bulldog squad. Can Starkville handle that kind of football hype two years in a row?

MSU’s first big game will be against LSU in Starkville on September 12th.