No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0) held Mississippi State (3-7, 1-5) to only 167 total yards Saturday in a 32-7 Crimson Tide victory. The loss ensures that last year’s Liberty Bowl Champions will not make a bowl game this season.
In a closely fought game, Alabama’s superiority in special teams made the difference. The Bulldogs were forced to punt 10 times on the evening and the Tide scored a safety and a touchdown on the MSU punt team. Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin hit three field goals of 35, 34 and 35 yards on the night and Alabama punter P.J. Fitzgerald twice pinned the MSU offense inside its own 2-yard line to add to the Bulldogs’ troubles.
“From the way they played us, these guys should be a top 15 team,” Alabama kick returner and defensive back Javier Arenas said.
He made the difference in the game with 154 yards on six returns including an 80 yard return of a touchdown and a 46 yard return to the Bulldogs’ 2-yard line.
MSU would take a 7-5 lead midway through the second quarter on a 31-yard pass from Tyson Lee to senior wideout Jamayel Smith, but Alabama scored 27 unanswered points to finish the game. The Alabama defense made Lee’s night difficult as it was credited with two sacks and 12 hurries.
“When it comes to bringing different guys and [having] playmakers, when you have those two things, it can make it hard on an offense,” Lee said of the Alabama defense.
Lee finished the night with 132 yards passing on 28 attempts and was never comfortable in the pocket.
When senior Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson scored on a quarterback sneak with 4:47 left in the second quarter, he ended the Tide’s 210 minute offensive scoring drought against the Bulldogs. MSU’s secondary held Wilson to only 10 completions on the night and kept Alabama from connecting on a single touchdown pass. Wilson is one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas award which is presented to the best senior quarterback each year in college football.
“In the first half the Mississippi State defense played really well. We couldn’t sustain drives,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. MSU was held scoreless in the second half and only had the ball for 11:31 of the second half as Alabama added 20 points to its lead. The Tide had 141 of its 198 rushing yards in the second half. That rushing total is the most MSU has conceded in an SEC game since winning 31-14 at Kentucky last season. MSU picked up fewer first downs than times it was forced to punt for the second time this season.
With the game still within reach in the third quarter, the Bulldogs went three and out three times, managed only 14 total yards and surrendered Arenas’ punt return for a touchdown.
The fourth quarter was not much better for the Bulldogs as Alabama picked up 152 yards total offense and seven first downs, letting MSU have the ball for only 3:15.
“We gave up 16 points in the kicking game, and that’s the ballgame,” MSU head coach Sylvester Croom said. “We can’t give those guys points. You can’t give them anything.”
MSU averaged just 21 net yards per punt.
Additionally, MSU was hit hard by injuries. Defensive back Derek Pegeus suffered a concussion as he stopped Alabama freshman receiver Julio Jones at the 1-yard line following a 34-yard gain. Defensive tackle Jesse Bowman will likely miss the rest of the season with a torn quadricep muscle.
MSU returns home next weekend as the Bulldogs will try to keep the Arkansas Razorbacks (4-6, 1-5) from becoming bowl eligible before trying to defend the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss.