2015 Common Opponents Preview: Mississippi State

After this we’ve only got one common opponent left…the Cow College; although we have one more important piece of business to attend to before we get to them. That piece of business is Mississippi State; Alabama’s sixth common opponent in 2015.

The Crimson Tide started the scoring off with a Safety in 2014.
Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

2014 Recap:

Remember when Mississippi State showed up in Tuscaloosa as the number one ranked team? HAHAHA that was fun! Yes, believe it or not people actually believed in the team from Starkville enough to rank them first in the College Football Playoff Poll.

Seriously, let’s take a moment to reflect on what I just said. At one point last year, people were confident enough in Mississippi State to vote them as the number one team in America.

Shouldn’t State have learned by now that showing up to Tuscaloosa with a perfect record is never a good idea?

Alabama picked off Dak Prescott 3 times in a 25-20 victory.
Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Yeah, so Mississippi State was 9-0 coming in to Tuscaloosa while the Tide were 8-1. Alabama started the scoring with a safety then a field goal to take a rare 5-0 lead into the second quarter. This would not be a repeat of the 2008 Auburn Mississippi State game however (3-2 Auburn victory).

Alabama continued the scoring in the second with two more touchdowns as they built up a 19-0 lead before the Cowbells added a field goal right before half.

The Crimson Tide kind of coasted after the half as they allowed State to get it to 19-13 before Alabama went on a 15 play touchdown drive to put the icing on the cake.

The Bulldogs were able to add a late touchdown with 15 seconds left but in the end the Tide prevailed 25-20.

Mississippi State’s perfect season wasn’t the only thing crushed that day; Alabama also made sure Dak Prescott wouldn’t be winning a Heisman, as they were able to pick the quarterback off three times.

2015 Look Ahead:

The Crimson Tide will travel to Starkville on November 14th this season. No reason to fear though, they basically play in a high school stadium that will be 40% Alabama fans. Yes there will be cowbells and yes they will be annoying, but you won’t hear them after the first 5 minutes.

Alabama plays LSU the week before traveling to Starkville and Mississippi State will be coming off a Thursday night game against Missouri.

Don’t tell Mississippi State they’re in for a letdown. Their all mighty Dak returns. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Key Losses/Returnees:

Mississippi State loses a lot on a team that could be considered one of the best in school history. Yup, a loss to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl is still considered one of the best in State’s history. They had five players taken in the 2015 NFL Draft including two second rounders in LB Benardrick McKinney and DE Preston Smith. Don’t tell State fans they’re in for a let down because Dak Prescott comes back and that’s all that matters. Believe it or not they even put him on the Sports Illustrated cover a couple of weeks ago.

Don’t get me wrong; Dak is a great talent, but his arm is not something you can trust when State gets down by 2+ touchdowns. They had a good season last year but they should fall back to the pack a little in 2015 in a loaded SEC West.

Alabama leads the all time series against State 78-18-3 (seriously can we move Mississippi State to Conference USA already?).

The Crimson Tide will look to make it eight straight against the Cowbells on November 14th; see you then Bulldogs, Roll Tide.

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