Dan Mullen told reporters after Mississippi State University’s first loss of the season to the Alabama Crimson Tide that he asked the team in the locker room if going undefeated was their goal of the season. Mullen said maybe one player raised his hand. 
“Every goal we have is still intact,” Mullen said.
MSU can still become  the SEC Champion and can still win the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs would have to win the rest of their games, and Alabama would have to fall to Auburn for MSU to represent the SEC West in the SEC Championship. As far as making the College Football Playoff, it will come down to how well the selection committee perceives MSU’s resume versus the other top one-loss teams around the country. Mullen was not sure how the loss would affect the team’s chances.
“I do not have a vote, so, if I sat in the meetings, I do not know what they are judging it off of,” Mullen said. “I think that we are the only team to play four top-10 teams, and we are 3-1 against those top-10 teams, so if it is on strength of schedule then absolutely not, then I’d imagine we would still be in the hunt.”
The Crimson Tide kept the Bulldog offense at bay most of the game, only allowing 20 points in the red zone out of six attempts. 
“It was probably my fault in the red zone, some poor calls I guess in the red zone,” Mullen said. “I’ll really evaluate myself and see why we did not come up with touchdowns in the red zone.”
The Alabama defense also limited the Dak Prescott and Josh Robinson duo all game. Prescott ran for 82 yards on 22 attempts, and Robinson had 12 attempts for only 37 yards. Neither broke through for a touchdown. 
“They knew they had to stop the run coming into this game,” Prescott said. “We do well in the games when we have our running game going and get momentum there.”
Prescott threw three interceptions in the game as well. Each one of them coming in Alabama territory after the offense had been driving on the defense. 
“We had them. I cannot turn over the ball the way that I did,” Prescott said.
“They were just stupid turnovers. Then you get the tipped ball at the line intercepted, great play on their part,” Prescott said.
Despite the poor red zone play and the turnovers on possible scoring drives, MSU still found itself only down five points and trying an onside kick to get the ball back. The Bulldogs went into Tuscaloosa, fell behind by 19 points and then railed back on the road. The Bulldogs showed they have the ability to keep fighting even when things are not going their way.
“I know my teammates, we have that bond,” Robinson said. “We are never going to roll over, nah, that is just not us. It is not in our character, not in us.”
The goals of the SEC Championship and the National Championship are still there for MSU. Also, there can still be a rematch with Alabama on a neutral field later in the season.