Back in the friendly confines of Davis Wade Stadium for the final time in October, Coach Arnett and the Mississippi State Bulldogs look to snap a three-game skid against Western Michigan on Saturday morning. A double-digit favorite on Saturday, Mississippi State will look to bury the demons of the last three games and enter the bye week with swagger for the first time since the thrilling overtime win over Arizona. The woes started three weeks ago when LSU came to town and destroyed the spirit of the Bulldogs. Then came South Carolina, where the Bulldogs felt like they let one get away from them, as late turnovers cost the Bulldogs their first Southeastern Conference win of the season. Then, as the clock would tick, the annual beatdown during the Alabama game commenced last Saturday night at Davis Wade Stadium. Now, it’s time to turn the page on the ugly and shift the Mississippi State focus to improving and finishing the second half of the season with a vengeance.

Sure, the last three weeks have produced less than ideal results for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, with three Southeastern Conference losses in a row, yet the season is far from over for Coach Arnett and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. With an average Western Michigan team coming to Starkville on Saturday, the reboot of the season has the perfect launching board on Saturday morning at Davis Wade Stadium. Short-term memory and not dwelling on the past three weeks will be the crucial difference maker on Saturday morning as the Bulldogs look to turn the page.

For Mississippi State, Saturday is the perfect game to open the offensive playbook up to give reps to everyone on that side of the ball. Saturday is one of those games where Will Rogers should end the day with over 300 yards through the air, with a ground assault from Jo’quavious Marks that nears well over 150 yards and a few touchdowns. Combine that with getting backup quarterback Mike Wright the reps he needs to continue his growth in the offensive system under Kevin Barbay. Not to mention, Mississippi State should have a sizable advantage on the line of scrimmage as overpowering Western Michigan should come as easy as it does for a Southeastern Conference team over a MAC program.

On the defensive side of the ball, continue to cause mayhem on the opposing offensives you face. Mississippi State has some playmakers on defense, creating opportunities for them to create turnovers and make the day a terror for Western Michigan. According to the game notes provided by the Mississippi State communications department, Jett Johnson is the only linebacker in the Southeastern Conference with at least fifty tackles through five weeks of the 2023 season. Johnson finished the Alabama loss with fourteen tackles.

Mississippi State and Western Michigan will have the early morning kick at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday, with a national television audience on the SEC Network.