Mississippi State Football

The hot topic in Destin, Fla. last month at the SEC's annual spring meetings was the format of future SEC football schedules.

After a heated debate, the 6-1-1 model was adopted, meaning each team from one division will play its six other division foes, one permanent cross-division rival and one rotating opponent from the other division every season.

With the scheduling format adopted, you'd think that the headaches associated with it are gone, right?

Wrong.

Brandon Marcello of the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger reported on Saturday that Mississippi State officials are hoping that their annual Egg Bowl rivalry with Ole Miss will be played on Thanksgiving night in future seasons. The game was played on Thanksgiving night on ESPN from 1998-2003.

It'd be a perfect fit.

While the Ole Miss/Mississippi State game doesn't move the meter on the national scale during most seasons, it's one of the SEC's longest-running rivalries—and one that would benefit from a little bit more exposure.

The NFL owns Thanksgiving Day, and the prime-time college football game is really the only option for college football fans. The fact that it isn't a national draw really doesn't matter, because college football fans are probably going to watch regardless.

What the SEC should push for in its look-in of the current television contract is a stipulation that requires a rotating SEC rivalry game to be played on Thanksgiving night on an annual basis. That pool should include the Egg Bowl.

There has been talk that LSU and Texas A&M—who have met 50 times on the gridiron—will play at the end of the season, and former Aggie head coach Jackie Sherrill thinks that it's going to be on Thanksgiving night. 

Add one or two of the SEC/ACC intrastate rivalries into the rotation, and you have created an SEC holiday event that is unique every single season.

Travelling to college football games on Thanksgiving can be a hassle, and it surely won't please fans. But doing it once every four or five years is a small price to pay for having your biggest rivalry featured as the only show in town.

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The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30, at the start of the college football regular season.

58. Cameron Lawrence, No. 10, Mississippi State Linebacker

2011 stats: 123 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions

Strengths

Lawrence is the best player you've never heard of. He finished last season second in the SEC with 123 tackles, and is the conference's leading returning tackler. The 6'2", 230-pound rising senior has a nose for the football, doesn't shy away from contact and is a leader on the football field.

Weaknesses

He doesn't have many. The only real question facing Lawrence heading into 2012 is how he is going to handle the spotlight being on him. Former defensive lineman Fletcher Cox grabbed all the attention on the Bulldog defense last season, but now Lawrence is the star along with fellow defensive lineman Josh Boyd.

2012 Prediction

Lawrence set the bar pretty high for himself last season, but that doesn't mean he can't do it again. He already established himself as one of the SEC's premier outside linebackers, and he will prove it again in 2012.

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The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30, at the start of the college football regular season.

74. Josh Boyd, No. 97, Mississippi State Defensive Tackle

2011 stats: 51 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks

Strengths

Fletcher Cox got all of the publicity on Mississippi State's defensive line last year, but Josh Boyd was no slouch either. The 6'3", 300-pound rising senior has been a contributor ever since he stepped foot on the field for Mississippi State in 2009. He's a force inside that routinely is in the opponent's backfield, and takes up double teams to free up pass rushers off the edge.

Weaknesses

Now that Cox is gone, it's up to Boyd to be the leader of the defensive line. We will know early whether Boyd was a product of too much attention being paid to Cox off the edge, or if he is the catalyst that makes the Bulldogs line click. 

2012 Prediction

Boyd is set up for a solid campaign in his senior season. Mississippi State's defensive line is an underrated unit, and the addition of junior college transfer Denico Autry at defensive end should benefit Boyd in the middle of the line. It all starts up front, and it's up to Boyd to be the leader in 2012.

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Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes brought the heat to the state of Mississippi in a recent article in the Monroe (La.) News-Star.

Dykes' team played Ole Miss and Mississippi State last season, beating the Rebels 27-7 and losing in overtime to Mississippi State 26-20 in Starkville.

The outcome of those two contests has Dykes thinking that his team is on par with the two SEC teams in the state of Mississippi.

We have better players than people think. Last year we played Mississippi State, and I swear to you there was no difference in our players and theirs. I was shocked. There was no difference.

They might've had a little more depth, but across the board our players were about as good as theirs. We played Ole Miss, and we kinda played 'em at a time that wasn't really good for them, and I think we beat 'em by about 24 points and had better players than they did.

When asked for a response by Brandon Marcello of the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen took the high road, speaking in jest.

I guess if the players are equal we must have better coaches here at Mississippi State since we won. But they are a very good football team. Sonny does a great job with their program.

Good for Dan Mullen.

Whether Dykes is right or not really doesn't matter.

Mullen is a head coach in the SEC, and as a coach in a position of strength—which he is when compared to the coach at Louisiana Tech—he is wise to act as the bigger man.

Getting into a verbal spat with Dykes would only end badly for Mullen and for Mississippi State. It would be a sign that Mullen feels threatened by Louisiana Tech. Even if he is—which I don't think is the case—it'd be a a sign of weakness.

Dykes is the little kid trying to pick a fight at the playground with the bully, and the bully wisely walked away. 

Good for him.

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Really quick without looking it up, answer these questions:

Which college football BCS conference will play the toughest schedule as a whole this upcoming season?

Which individual team will play the toughest schedule this upcoming season from that conference?

Which college football BCS conference will play the weakest schedule as a whole this upcoming season?

Which individual team will play the weakest schedule this upcoming season from that conference?

The correct answers are, in order, the Pac-12, USC, the SEC and Mississippi State.

How did you do? I bet you went 0-for-4.

That is because the SEC has been able to pull some sort of hillbilly Jedi mind trick over a lot of the country. Most SEC fans will tell you that the SEC is the toughest conference because the teams have to play other SEC teams. You would have to reside from a shallow gene pool to think that makes sense.

Anyone with a rudimentary understanding of logic knows conference games only prove who the best team is within that conference. It is non-conference games that prove how your conference stacks up against other conferences.

That is why I conducted these weekly conference power rankings during last season, such as this from Week 1, Week 2 and Week 3.

I actually like to chart things to back up claims with facts. Not everyone likes to follow a logical train of thought, though. They prefer to buy into propaganda being spewed all around them. That is how we ended up with Alabama playing LSU in the national championship game last year. LSU deserved to be there. I will let you be the judge on whom it should have played after reading this to educate yourself.

The talk this offseason about a possible playoff system got me excited. I have been calling for one for as long as I can remember, and this is still one of the best, if not the best playoff, proposals out there.

This four-team playoff proposal being discussed makes me feel weird things. On one hand, any playoff system is better than what we have now. However, the process for determining who gets those four slots is absurd if the SEC gets its way. It wants the four "best" teams getting in, while "best" is subjective. The SEC knows it has been so successful manipulating the voters in the past that this system ensures it will get in more undeserving teams to possibly play for a championship.

The objective and fair system for a four-team playoff would be to invite the four highest-ranked teams that won their conference championship. That should be pretty cut and dry and it rewards teams for winning their conference, not finishing second in its own division like Alabama did last year.

If the SEC gets its way we have to determine who the "best" teams are. That is done by looking at win-loss record and schedule strength. If you read that ESPN article I linked in above with the SEC proposal, you might have noticed a scheduling tidbit that was slipped in there at the end. The SEC announced it was planning on continuing to play only eight conference games a year for the future.

Why is that significant? The Pac-12 currently plays nine conference games a year. The Big 12 currently plays nine conference games a year. The Big Ten currently plays eight conference games a year, too, but it is going to nine games in the future. It just needed time for the change after adding Nebraska last year since schedules are set so far in advance.

That means each SEC team will be playing one less conference game than each of the main rival conferences. That would not be a big deal if the SEC teams were making up that difference by scheduling more BCS teams on average in their non-conference schedule to make up for it. The problem for them is that they are not. They are playing the wimpiest schedule of all the power conferences this upcoming season.

Here are the facts.

Pac-12 teams will on average play 9.92 games against BCS opponents. That is the highest rate amongst the power conferences. That is due to nine conference games and .92 BCS non-conference games on average per team.

USC plays the manliest schedule in the country next year. The Trojans play a whopping 11 games against BCS opponents. Even their 12th game is against an MWC team, which is the toughest non-BCS conference hands down.

The Big 12 comes in next with 9.70 games against BCS opponents. It is followed by the Big Ten with 9.25 games against BCS opponents.

Coming in dead last we have the SEC with 9.00 games against BCS opponents. It factually challenges itself less against BCS-level competition.

It gets worse for SEC sycophants.

Remember when I pointed out the MWC is the best non-BCS conference? Well, the Pac-12 comes in manliest again. On average, 58 percent of Pac-12 teams will play a game against the MWC. So the Pac-12 will not only challenge itself the most against BCS competition, it will also challenge themselves the most against the best non-BCS conference as well.

The Big 12 comes in second place once again at 30 percent, with the Big Ten trailing at 17 percent.

How did the SEC do?

It came in dead last with zero percent.

The SEC is too busy playing the Sun Belt (the worst FBS conference, hands down) and cupcakes (FCS or below). On average, 79 percent of its teams will play a game against the Sun Belt Conference. That is easily the highest rate amongst the big four BCS conferences. The Big 12 on average will play 30 percent, followed by the Pac-12 and Big Ten at a mere 8 percent.

Do not forget about that cupcake schedule diet, either. The SEC plays an alarming 114 percent against cupcakes. Every single school plays at least one cupcake while Texas A&M and Mississippi State play two apiece.

Mississippi State deserves a special call out for playing the wussiest schedule of any team in the SEC. It only plays a total of eight BCS games (minimum conference requirement) and its non-conference schedule is made up of the aforementioned two cupcakes and also two games against the Sun Belt Conference. Way to challenge yourself, Mississippi State!

While every major BCS conference is guilty of eating cupcakes, they do so at a lesser rate compared to the SEC. The Big 12 is at 90 percent, the Pac-12 is at 75 percent and the Big Ten comes in looking the best at only 67 percent.

The public needs to be made aware of this scheduling travesty so that the SEC receives pressure to man up in its scheduling. The conference commissioners are negotiating the parameters of a future four-team playoff and the following stipulations need to be put in place assuming the SEC's "four 'best' teams" plan wins instead of the superior model that requires you to win your conference.

First, there needs to be a requirement that every team needs to play a minimum of nine conference games. By only playing eight conference games the SEC is inflating its overall win total. A ninth conference games automatically adds seven more losses to the ledger.

Next, cupcakes either need to be abolished to gain eligibility or there needs to be a cap at one cupcake per schedule.

If USC and Mississippi State both go 11-1 this year and Oklahoma goes 12-0, USC needs to be the team playing Oklahoma for the national championship, not Mississippi State. You know SEC fans will be clamoring for Mississippi State with the same convoluted "logic" we hear every year about how the SEC deserves it more.

This is all about equality. Each conference needs to be playing with the same scheduling rules. It is time for the SEC to man up.

The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30 at the start of the college football regular season.

95. Deontae Skinner, No. 51, Mississippi State Linebacker

2011 stats: 69 tackles, nine tackles for loss

Strengths

Skinner was overshadowed last year by Cameron Lawrence, but put together a solid season at the outside linebacker spot. The 6'2", 245-pounder has the size to take the punishment in the SEC, and has a nose for the backfield—making nine stops behind the line of scrimmage. He emerged as a reliable linebacker during his sophomore season in 2011 for head coach Dan Mullen.

Weaknesses

He may not even start. Chris Hughes is listed above him on Mississippi State's spring depth chart, so the amount of playing time Skinner receives as a junior is still very much up in the air. Competition is healthy for a team, so expect Skinner to be improved even if he isn't on the field as much.

2012 Prediction

Even if he isn't a starter, he will still see the field a lot. He's too talented to stand on the sidelines. Skinner will make an impact for the Bulldogs whether it's as a starter, backup or on special teams.

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The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30 at the start of the college football regular season.

No. 99: Corey Broomfield, No. 25, Mississippi State, Defensive Back

2011 stats: 59 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack

Strengths

Broomfield has solidified himself as Mississippi State's starting corner opposite of All-SEC candidate Jonathan Banks.

Broomfield didn't have any interceptions last season, but he had nine over his first two campaigns, including six during his freshman year in 2009. He has established himself as one of the top cornerbacks in the nation and is looking to close out his career on a high note in 2012.

Weaknesses

Last season was a bit disappointing for Broomfield. He played with a broken thumb for the majority of the season, which certainly inhibited his ability to intercept passes.

His production has dropped off ever since his redshirt freshman season, which is something that should concern Mississippi State fans—at least a little bit.

2012 Prediction

Mississippi State's defense is going to be better than people want to believe. Josh Boyd and Denico Autry will put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, which should open the door for Broomfield and fellow corner Banks to make a big impact.

Broomfield is currently ninth on Mississippi State's all-time interception list, and he will rise on that list in 2012.

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The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30 at the start of the college football regular season.

103. Tyler Russell, No. 17, Mississippi State, Quarterback

2011 Stats: 69-for-129, 1,034 yards, eight touchdowns, four interceptions

Strengths

He was, arguably, the top recruit to commit to play for Dan Mullen's Mississippi State Bulldogs. Russell came out of Meridian (Miss.) High School ranked as the No. 13 quarterback in the country in 2009, and was named the 2008 Mississippi high school player of the year. At 6'4", 220 pounds, Russell has the size and arm strength to be a star at this level and the next.

Weaknesses

Russell injured his MCL this winter, which forced him to sit out the Music City Bowl against Wake Forest. He is fully recovered now, but practice is different than real games, so it's at least a small concern. What's a bigger concern for him is whether or not Mullen will adjust his play-calling and revolving door of quarterbacks enough to allow Russell—who's more of a pocket passer—to thrive.

2012 Prediction

Expect big things. Mississippi State has three solid receivers in Chad Bumphis, Arceto Clark and Joe Morrow, so Russell will have plenty of weapons to throw to. Russell won't be in the top tier of SEC passers with Tyler Russell and Aaron Murray, but don't be surprised if he is in the conversation for the tier right below them.

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The SEC Blog will be counting down the top 150 players in the SEC every day, concluding on Aug. 30 at the start of the college football regular season.

No. 104: Nickoe Whitley, No. 5, Mississippi State, Safety

2011 Stats: 34 tackles, two tackles for loss, four interceptions

Strengths

Whitley is a hard-hitter with a nose for the football. He finished second on the Bulldogs with four interceptions last season, and accomplished that despite missing the final three games of the season. The rising junior proved last season that he has what it takes to be a star in the SEC.

Weaknesses

An Achilles injury forced Whitley to miss the final three games of 2011 and limited him this spring. He says that he will be 100 percent by the start of the season, but Achilles injuries are tough, and he's going to need a little bit of time to knock the rust off when toe meets leather this fall.

2012 Prediction

Assuming that he's 100 percent, Whitley is set to be one of the stars of the Mississippi State defense. The 6'1", 205-pounder has proven that he has a nose for the football, and isn't afraid to stick his nose in and be a difference-maker stopping the run. 

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As far as the rest of the country is concerned, the Southeastern Conference is an "elitist" group of powerhouse football programs with the few controlling the many. Other leagues such as the Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC and Big 12 all attempt to point out the lack of "depth" within the SEC due to the fact that teams such as Alabama, Florida, LSU and Georgia seemingly dominate every season.

To some extent, they have a point. It's not likely that any SEC fan of the this generation will live to see to the day Vanderbilt takes home the conference championship, much less actually competes for it. No offense to the Commodores, but the odds aren't exactly in their favor.

However, the conference isn't considered to be the best in college football just for kicks. This illusion of lack of depth is a mirage that has fooled even the most observant of outsiders.

To prove my point, I present Mississippi State, a mid-level SEC program which is, essentially, on the rise. Following the hiring of former Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen as their head coach back in 2009, the Bulldogs have steadily begun to build a reputation on the gridiron.

After finishing 5-7 in his first season, Mullen has since boasted a 16-10 overall record with two huge bowl victories over Michigan and Wake Forest. This kind of consistent success is unlike what MSU fans have seen in a long time, leading to a record 16 straight sellout home crowds.

To accommodate for the sudden increase in attendance, including two record-breaking crowds in 2009, the university has acquired permission to begin construction on an $82 million expansion of Davis-Wade Stadium, effectively jumping its meager 55,000 seating up to just around 61,000.

The beautiful renderings of the expansion plans have many an SEC fan talking. MSU Athletic Director Scott Stricklin even had meetings with the world-renowned stadium architecture firm Populous in order to start brainstorming how Davis-Wade could eventually reach upwards of 75,000 plus seating.

While this kind of expansion may seem somewhat insignificant when compared to overpowering structures such as Alabama's Bryant-Denny, LSU's Death Valley, Florida's "The Swamp," and Georgia's Between the Hedges, it represents the kind of depth the SEC has established within its middle-tiered programs.

Following just over a year of selling out at home, Mississippi State put this huge expansion in the works. Such a quick reaction to what could turn out to be a few short years of success proves how even these smaller SEC universities are just as fanatical as their big brothers, despite the lack of attention they receive on a national scale.

Like many things in this world, success on the gridiron is cyclical. Some remain on top for decades while others just for a year or two, but the main point is that the roots of the SEC run deep in the fertile southern soil no matter how good a team is. This kind of unwavering loyalty through both the good and bad times is a trait unmatched by other conferences.

With a few exceptions that include some of the most historically relevant programs (i.e. Michigan, Ohio State, USC and Texas), you won't see many other universities outside the SEC throw down that kind of cash for an expansion on their stadium after just a year-and-a-half of "real" success on the field.

Mississippi State fans aren't the fair-weather type either. A program that, historically, is used to finishing just around .500, you'll never hear one brag about their upcoming season just because they have never been able to count on consistent results.

However, SEC fanatics know a winner when they see one and Mullen has revamped this stagnant program and taken it to new heights in a very short period of time.

Many universities would have waited a few more years to see if this kind of on-the-field success was repeatable before writing checks for just over $80 million, but the Bulldogs' front office jumped on the opportunity like a rabid animal, seeking a greater influence within their own state with hope of retaining some success once it begins to dwindle as it always eventually does.

This kind of behavior is certainly what most analysts would expect out of Alabama or Florida if their stadiums were a bit too full for years on end, but Mississippi State? It proves that the fanaticism of the SEC isn't just limited to the powerhouses sitting up on their ivory towers. The smaller universities are just as dedicated, loyal and intense about their own programs as the big boys from around the conference.  

And don't expect that to change any time soon.