It was an optimistic week in Starkville. The win at Arkansas did a lot to boost what could have been the foretelling of a dismal season. Everybody feels good about the football team now. The offense had a different look with Mike Wright filling in for the injured quarterback Will Rogers. Granted, he didn’t burn up the field, but it was enough to get the lead and create a new spark. But the biggest difference of all was that the defense finally came together. Linebacker Bookie Watson was honored with the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. It was State’s first conference win. There’s every reason to believe that with the Bulldogs at Auburn, they want one more for the road.
But as sporadic as Mississippi State has been this year, the Tigers have been equally so. They played number one Georgia incredibly well, almost with a win. However, the following week they played, at the time, number 22 LSU. Auburn lost 48-18. That sounds eerily familiar, until last weekend for the Dawgs.
But this isn’t Arkansas. This is Jordan-Hare Stadium in the loveliest village on the Plains. This is a place where even giants come to die. Just ask Georgia with the “Prayer at Jordan-Hare” or Alabama and the infamous “Kick-Six”. However, the Tigers can be beaten in their hallowed home, the Dawgs being one of those victors in 2021. This year the win against the Razorbacks gave the Bulldogs one thing, and that is momentum.
Can We Be Friends?
The two schools have been going at it since 1905. This will be the 96th time they square off. In addition, the Tigers and Dawgs have played consecutively since 1954. Due to conference scheduling for 2024, that streak stops this Saturday, ending a tradition. The SEC needed to accommodate Texas and Oklahoma next year. It’s almost like separating two squabbling siblings since they have so much in common.
They are both land-grant schools and have equally robust agricultural programs. Likewise, they both have hated cross-state rivals named after their state. When they get together for games, whether in Starkville or Auburn, they tailgate like old family, inviting one another over for ribs or a burger.
When a disgruntled Alabama fan poisoned Auburn’s treasured Toomers’ Oaks, it was Mississippi State’s horticulture lab that acted as the objective testing facility. You’d almost consider this like a pickup game in the backyard between cousins, almost. After kickoff, all that comes to a halt and they get down to business.
The Offense of Freeze
Another similarity they have is in first-year head coaches. However, that is where the similarity ends. MSU head coach Zach Arnett is a first-time coach, leading the Bulldogs into seven games. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has been one for 12 years, and quite successfully. His offense is complex to defend with many looks and personnel spread all over the field. This year, he is running a two-quarterback system with Payton Thorne and Robby Ashford. Thorne gave Georgia fits running 12 times for 92 yards. Ashford can run too, just not as effectively. He seems to be the distraction Freeze uses to throw off defensive coordinators. One might think they are heavy in the run game, but against Ole Miss, it was a mixed bag. Their ace running back Jarquez Hunter not only led in rushing, but he led the team in receptions as well.
In his Monday press conference, Arnett is not taking them for granted. “Coach Freeze has always been a great offensive mind,” Arnett said. “The athleticism at quarterback jumps off. The run game is very physical. Backs are quick and strong. Quarterbacks present problems when they pull it down and run it. Really deep tight-end group. A couple of them run like receivers. It’s a big, strong, athletic football team. We’ll have to be on our game.”
Arnett cannot look past their defense either. After all, he was defensive coordinator under Mike Leach in the previous three years. He has a lot of respect for Auburn’s defensive coordinator Ron Roberts. “They play really good on defense,” Arnett said.” I’ve always admired Coach Roberts’ scheme. Brilliant mind coordinating the defense. A couple of linebackers who run and hit.”
Will He or Won’t He
Once again, the question is whether veteran Rogers is healthy enough to play or will Wright take the helm again. Arnett is mum on the subject only saying, “Every guy on our roster is a little banged up,” Arnett said. “Same ongoing evaluation, day to day. Will’s progressing just like we expected. If he’s able to go, he’ll go. If not, he’s not. And that goes for any other guy on the team. We have several days to evaluate, see his progress in practice, and decide then.”
One could say that offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay has a two-quarterback system as well. However, in State’s case, each one brings a different offense with them. It’s either Wright’s legs or Rogers’ arm. The difference is that there won’t be the typical substituting throughout the game. It started that way at the beginning of the season, but Barbay may be able to field two different offenses in the overall game plan. That could be considered a variation on the two-quarterback system most are used to. That is a game-time decision that all will be waiting for with great anticipation.
Against Arkansas last week, Barbay’s game plan was very conservative, almost as if he had training wheels on Wright. He only threw 12 times, connecting on eight of those for 85 yards. But he led the team in rushing going 11 times for 60 yards. That’s an offense that is totally different than what fans are used to.
For Rogers, playing in this game could be reminiscent of the 2021 greatest comeback in Bulldog history. State was down 28-3 against the number 16 Tigers. Rogers roared back with six record-setting touchdown passes. The Dawgs scored 40 unanswered points to take Auburn in their own house 48-34.
The Defense with Moxie
A great deal of the optimism floating around Starkville these days comes from a new and improved defense. It’s actually the same defense, only they’re playing with more intensity and purpose. Watson’s SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor is a testament to that. After all, they held the Hogs to three points. Also, the pesky secondary that received so much criticism early in the season got high marks from Pro Football Focus (PFF). In fact, it was the best grade of the season at 89.7, and the Dawgs’ best grade since the Vandy game in 2014.
Another Nail Biter?
Mississippi State heads into Auburn, with a chip on its shoulder and confidence coming off its first SEC win. Momentum is everything in these kinds of matches, especially in such a hostile environment.
“It’s going to be a physical matchup and we have to make sure we match their physicality and intensity,” Arnett said.
If State can increase the intensity of the offense and maintain what they’ve discovered on defense, Auburn could have their hands full Saturday. This could be the Bulldogs’ win on the road that sends them back for homecoming next week with even more to celebrate. But no looking ahead for State. Take them. one at a time.
Kickoff is at 3:30 pm ET and can be seen on the SEC Network.
