It all comes down to this, the bye week leading into the Egg Bowl for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, with postseason implications on the minds of both Ole Miss and Mississippi State for different reasons, but the postseason will be there for the taking for both programs.

For Mississippi State, this season has seen its fair share of highs and lows. Still, overall, year two of the Coach Lebby era in Starkville has been a success; they have a win over a top-15 Arizona State team, played right there with Tennessee and Texas, picked up a Southeastern Conference win, and added three wins to last season’s total, where the Bulldogs had just won two games all season. In today’s world, fans want success right now, but the projection of where the program is heading has gone from bleak to hopeful.

As far as a few takeaways from the second season under the leadership of Coach Lebby, heading into the final bye week of the season.

First, let’s talk about one of the glaring issues heading into the Egg Bowl week. It’s the divide in the fan base: half trust the process, meaning they trust the judgment call made by Coach Lebby and his staff to keep Blake Shapen as the starting quarterback. In contrast, the other half of the fan base has made their voices heard, demanding that KaMario Taylor be named the starter for the Egg Bowl. Both sides of the aisle have valid points. Shapen has the experience, but Taylor has the raw talent and is the likely future of this program for years to come. Both have shown signs of greatness, while Shapen has shown a bit more of the negative, and the fans might be chomping at the bit to see a change. Both sides have valid points. Shapen has shown signs that he’s capable of leading Mississippi State. Still, KaMario Taylor is the future of the program, and with the postseason hanging in limbo, why not start someone to learn the system while giving the Bulldogs a fresh face to lead them in the Egg Bowl?

Second, Coach Lebby has had the support not only of the student body but also of the fan base as a whole, which has his back. A win over Ole Miss next week would not only give the Bulldogs a postseason bid, but it would give Coach Lebby and his staff the needed momentum in recruiting heading into a pivotal year three next season. Coach Lebby and his staff have been given everything they need to succeed, and you have to credit the Bulldog faithful for their unwavering support of the program. Every home game, the students turn out in full force, with the student line starting hours before the gates of Davis Wade Stadium open, while games like the Arizona State or Tennessee games were among the loudest in school history. The support is there; if Coach Lebby and his boys can find a way to bottle the magic, next Friday could change the program’s trajectory for years to come.

Lastly, the pieces are there. It’s as simple as that. Mississippi State has been close all season. With one game remaining and needing it to reach the postseason, nothing else matters. Use almost wins as motivation, and go out next Friday and play with a chip on your shoulder. You’ve certainly proven against Tennessee, Arizona State, and even Texas that you can hang with anyone in the country; all that’s left to do is to go out and put a complete sixty-minute game together.

Overall, if you compare this season to last season, this season is a massive success for Mississippi State. In that case, you have five wins, won a road conference game, and have been in a position to win more games. With a new coaching staff every season, year two sets the tone for years to come. A win over Ole Miss would be the icing on the cake for the Bulldogs as they navigate this new era of Mississippi State football.

Photo Credits- Mississippi State Football on X