For months national expectations have risen for the Mississippi State University Bulldogs. Gregg McElroy said on the SEC Network that MSU had a real chance of winning the SEC West.
Most national award lists had Dak Prescott’s name on them. Prescott’s name came up on almost every national media’s dark horse Heisman contender list. ESPN’s Trevor Matich said on College Football Live that he thought De’Runnya Wilson would win the award for Most Improved Player in the SEC. Benardrick McKinney will likely become a first-round draft pick this summer.
As the expectations began to grow more and more for the Bulldogs around the country, it seemed the local fans began to become more doubtful. The atmosphere around the city of Starkville seemed to be cautious rather than optimistic.
MSU fans have been conditioned to never get too excited about a Mississippi State football season. Too many times have Bulldog fans gotten their hopes up, only to have them dashed by the season’s end. The expectations were growing in 2008, only to see a disastrous 4-8 season end with the firing of Sylvester Croom. In 2012, MSU started the season 7-0 then saw the season fall apart losing five of the next six games. Mississippi State fans knew this year could be special, but after so much disappointment over the years, no one could really get too excited.
Then Saturday happened. Mississippi State traveled to Death Valley in Baton Rouge at night. No team goes into Baton Rouge and wins at night. MSU became the first team not ranked No. 1 in the country to beat LSU at Death Valley at night since Les Miles took over the team in 2005.
The Bulldogs played spectacular defense for most of the game. The goal line stand late in the first quarter on fourth down may have been a defining moment in this young season. The open-field tackling that plagued the defense for a majority of last season was spectacular. LSU’s quarterback did not have the arm that was needed to capitalize on the Bulldog’s secondary’s mistakes.
Then, there was the offense. Dan Mullen promised back when he first took the job in Starkville that MSU would have a strong offense for years to come. Finally, Mullen has the quarterback and the team he needs to run the offense he wants to run. Mississippi State is one of three teams to have five straight games of 500 total yards dating back to last year. Prescott played like a real Heisman candidate. Wilson proved he is a legitimate threat in the red zone. Josh Robinson gashed LSU’s defense for 197 yards on only 16 carries.
MSU came out early and strong getting an early lead and holding onto it. The first half could not have gone more perfectly for the Bulldogs.
MSU fans were scared to get excited, this was almost too good to be true. Prescott opened the second half with a fumble on the first play that was returned for a touchdown. The party ended in Starkville;  it was fun while it lasted, but ultimately it was Mississippi State against LSU. Something amazing was about to happen on the sideline.
Prescott walked up to his offensive teammates and motioned that it was his fault, but it wouldn’t happen again. In the past, MSU would have let that moment destroy its confidence, the game and its season. Not this MSU team, not with this quarterback.
LSU almost accomplished the impossible and came roaring back, but it was too little too late. MSU would have their fourth win of the season and only the third over a ranked opponent in the Mullen era.
“Our guys played with a lot of confidence. We made plays when we needed to. We have been doing that all year. When we need a big play, guys step up and make them,” Mullen told reporters after the game.
Mississippi State made the important plays all game; they went into Death Valley and came out victorious. So far, MSU has lived up to the huge expectations; it’s now time to start believing  this team could end up in Atlanta for the SEC crown. It is now time to #believe – well lets just enjoy where the team is and dream about where it can go.