It’s year two of the Coach Lebby era in Starkville, and with less than two weeks until game week, excitement for Mississippi State football has returned. Since the spring, every team photo and video has shown a roster that looks comparable and formidable against that of a Southeastern Conference football program. Last season was a unique season for Coach Lebby and his staff as they assembled their first roster of Bulldogs. They might have gone 2-10 and 0-8 in SEC play, but those guys fought like hell all season. An injury to quarterback Blake Shapen, along with a few others, sidelined the first season for Coach Lebby. However, as the season progressed, it felt as if the team improved, giving the Bulldogs Nation something to be excited about for the 2025 season. 

As the Bulldogs prepare for toe to meet leather against Southern Miss next Saturday, the careful optimism is there. First, from Athletics Director Zac Selmon, who, with the help of his staff, spent the offseason listening to fans who requested an overhaul of the football logo and improvements to Davis Wade Stadium, which would ultimately enhance the game-day environment. Starting with brand-new LED lights at Davis Wade Stadium, the lights had long been outdated and lacked the flash that many stadiums across the conference have. Selmon tackled that head-on by replacing the lights, giving the Bulldogs’ nation a product that will look really cool during night games. Then just a few days ago, Selmon announced that Mississippi State would be bringing back the interlocking MSU logo on helmets this season in both maroon and white, giving the vast majority of fans what they’ve been begging for for the last few years since Mississippi State decided to go with the script State look. Both changes have brought renewed excitement that the fans have in the football program. 

From there, the product on the field is bound to be better than last season. There aren’t many excuses for the Bulldogs not to be competitive this season, because the guys on the roster got bigger and faster from last season, and then Coach Lebby and his staff brought in ballplayers that not only add depth to the roster, but also add a different skill level that wasn’t present last season. Odds are that both sides of the ball will be vastly improved from last season, with offense having Blake Shapen at quarterback and KaMario Taylor learning the system as a freshman to provide Coach Lebby with a solid option next season. 

Obviously, the College Football Playoff is the goal for all teams entering a new season, but the reality for Mississippi State football this fall will be a magical return to the postseason, while laying the groundwork for future Bulldogs to build upon. If the Bulldogs were able to manage seven wins this season, with perhaps a win over Ole Miss, Arkansas, and/or Missouri, it would likely be considered a successful year two for Coach Lebby, likely landing him within the conversation for SEC Coach of the Year honors. All of that is right within reach for Mississippi State this fall; the momentum is building for a future filled with many wins and postseason trips for the boys in maroon and white. 

Mississippi State will open the season on the road as they travel to The Rock in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on August 30th as they open with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. 

Photo Credits- Mississippi State Football on X