Year one of the Coach Jeff Lebby era has reached the first bye week, and the Bulldogs have many things to build on as they prepare to head to Athens, Georgia, to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on the 12th. Sure, Mississippi State has one win and a season-ending injury to Blake Shapen. Still, the future remains bright for Coach Lebby as he continues his journey of turning Mississippi State back into a program that makes the state proud of the Bulldogs. On Tuesday, Coach Lebby and his coaching staff landed the number one ranked Juco prospect for the 2025 recruiting class, creating a buzz ahead of the bye week for Mississippi State for a future filled with winning football games.

Let’s talk about it; sure, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are 1-4 coming into the bye week, and things seem bleak for those who don’t understand that building a program takes more than a year in the modern age of college football. However, Mississippi State’s progress is not just evident; it’s promising to those who understand the Jeff Lebby vision. The team is in a good position this season to continue building each week for a better future, and that’s something to be optimistic about. The potential for success is there, and it’s just a matter of time before the Bulldogs fan base realizes it.

From the Eastern Kentucky game, where Mississippi State scored from afar, to the Texas game, each week has seen the range of emotions for the program that deserves a bright moment. Despite the disappointments and setbacks to Blake Shapen, Coach Lebby has instilled a sense of resilience in his Bulldogs, preparing them to have a solid second half of the season. They are out to shock the world by winning five out of the last seven games to reach the postseason for the first time since the passing of Coach Leach nearly three years ago.

From a positive perspective, the standard of football within the program is getting better under Coach Lebby and his staff. Despite the noise of some, the program is in good hands; there are improvements each week, with last week coming in the form of the defense and backup quarterback Michael Van Buren, who stepped in after Blake Shapen went down to a season-ending injury by leading the Bulldogs against the Texas Longhorns on Saturday.

Michael Van Buren threw for 144 yards, no interceptions, and topped things off with a rushing touchdown of his own against one of the best defensive units in the country. Van Buren turned to the running game of Mississippi State on Saturday against Texas, with the group combining for 150 yards on the ground.

Special teams were also a bright spot on Saturday against Texas. Kyle Ferrie went two for two on-field goals, scoring six of the thirteen Mississippi State points.

Overall, things could be better, but the end of the world is not near for Mississippi State Football. There’s a lot of good happening inside the program; it just takes time; every good program takes a year or two to get the pieces needed to be successful.

Photo Credits – Mississippi State Football on X