Under the lights at Williams Brice Stadium provided Mississippi State and South Carolina the stage to give the prime platform for a thrilling Southeastern Conference Saturday night matchup. Mississippi State and South Carolina came into Saturday night with something to prove, as both lacked identity through three games.

For Mississippi State, the offense lacked a true identity; all of that changed on Saturday night as the Offensive Coordinator, Kevin Barbay, opened the playbook up to better suit the strengths of the Mississippi State offensive unit. Mississippi State used Will Rogers to complete the long ball and Mike Wright to run the goal line formations.

South Carolina jumped out on Mississippi State early in the first half with a 14-0 lead over the Bulldogs. South Carolina had all the momentum until Will Rogers rallied the Bulldogs and brought the Bulldogs within seven in the second quarter. Mississippi State would then tie the game at fourteen before South Carolina jumped back ahead with a go-ahead touchdown to make it 20-14 with a few minutes remaining in the half. Mississippi State would bring it within three points with a 49-yard field goal from Kyle Ferrie to bring the Bulldogs within three at the half.

Mississippi State would battle in the second half, outscoring South Carolina 10-7 in the third quarter to tie the game at 27. However, with Sandstorm blaring over the speakers at Williams Brice Stadium, the South Carolina Gamecocks would put together a fourth-quarter rally for the ages as they put together a ten-point swing to shift the momentum in favor of the Head Coach Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks. A turnover on down with 6:04 remaining in the game would be the final in the coffin for Mississippi State as a valiant effort would fall short.

Despite the loss to South Carolina, Mississippi State looked like a brand-new football team on Saturday night. Despite falling behind 14-0 early in the game, the Bulldogs never quit. The offense looked better, and the defense held their own until the fourth quarter. Mississippi State has plenty to build on as they prepare to welcome Alabama to Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday night.