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The 2026 season just around the corner for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Year three of Jeff Lebby as they try to do something that they have not been able to accomplish since he took that job, finish with a winning record and show real signs of promise and hope for the future. Guys, before we look ahead to this year's Mississippi State football team, let's start and let's set the scene, set the stage. How did we get here? Let's look back at what happened a season ago. Mississippi State went 5 and 817 in SEC play. They did end the season losing the Dukes Mayo bowl to Wake Forest. You might recall Mississippi State was one of those teams that a 5 and 7 team, got invited, went to Charlotte, lost Awake Forest. Probably the best thing to come out of that game was the fact that when Camario Taylor went down with an injury, it was not nearly as serious as we all thought it was upon initial review. But you know, it's interesting, guys, because obviously each year builds on itself, right? And year three is extremely important. So setting the foundation lead to year three, what is an important year? It is worth talking about, right? So year two was actually a. There were positives. I won't say it was a positive. I'm not going to sit here and say anytime you have a losing record that that's a positive. But there were some positives to take away. Number one, Mississippi State started four and. Okay, right. You forget that they started four zero. They had the big win over Arizona State at home. Things were looking up, right? Also, Mississippi State won their first SEC game under Jeff Levy. They beat the Arkansas Razorbacks, and Levy was finally able to get that monkey off his back and score his first SEC win. Because you might recall in year one, they went over. So that was a positive. I mean, another positive. You hate to take moral victories, but it is what it is. You hung in there tight against some of the best teams in the sec. You took Tennessee down to the wire. You took Texas down to the wire. You played Ole Miss tough for at least a half or a little bit over a half. But the cons, you only won one SEC game. You did not necessarily earn your way to a bowl bid. It was given to you. I'm not trying to take away from it, but I mean, you went 5 and 7. The other con was you started 40 and you still couldn't find a way to win two of your last eight games to get the bowl eligibility. And the games I mentioned against Tennessee and Texas, guys, they were there for the taking. I mean, The Texas game. I don't know if many of y' all remember this, but I thought that game was over. I said, hey, congratulations, Mississippi State. Jeff Levy, first SEC win. What an upset. I still don't know how Mississippi State lost that football game. You had Tennessee on the ropes, got them to overtime on your home field, and you could not get it done. So there were pros, there were cons, but it sets up what's a big year for Jeff Lebby. And that's where I want to go next. Guys, Jeff Lebby entering his third season at Mississippi State. You know, I did my hot seat power rankings earlier this week, or actually it was late last week. Whenever it was, we talked about it, Jeff Levy may not be on the hottest seat in the SEC, but it's 1A, 1B. I mean, I think it's him and Shane Beamer. If there are going to be head coaching changes, you look to Starkville as one of the possible destinations I and so it leads us into. And we can talk about this throughout the what is the minimum expectation? Guys? I was down there last year for the Egg Bowl. I'm grateful to say a friend of mine is someone who is actually on Mississippi State staff. I won't say who it is obviously, or what he does, but, you know, I talked to him right after the Egg bowl last year and he was very candid with me and telling me, Chris, we have been told by leadership at Mississippi State, 7 and 5 is the number at minimum earning your way to postseason play. But they want to see real progress in year three. Seven and five is kind of like the feeling of, hey, man, like this is. This should be the year three jump. Seven and five is the goal of where we want to get to. So, I mean, guys, with that in mind, and I think year three, in this new era of college football, love it or hate it, however you want to feel about it, you don't get five, six, seven years at most places to build a program. By year three, it's kind of like, okay, year three is this is who you are. Year one, depending on where you're at, you use year one, it's a transition year. Year two, take a step forward. By year three, it's your football team, right? These are your players. Your culture is fully ingrained. Time to take a massive leap forward. Time to take a step in the right direction. By year three, the trajectory has to be positive. I don't know that Jeff Levy can survive another three or four or five win season. I just, I don't know that he could. That being said, guys, what does this football team look like this season? Let's talk about the 2026 Mississippi State Bulldogs. Starting on the offensive side, you did add Philip Montgomery to the offensive staff. I think that was a really underrated addition. A guy who's had a ton of success and he's going to look to lead and look help to lead, I should say, an offense that. Guys, I think there is a lot of reason for optimism and excitement. And we talk about year three of the Jeff Levy era. Well, guys, Jeff Levy, if you're really this offensive mastermind, this offensive guru that people say you are, at minimum, the offense has got to be clicking because, folks, they have weapons. And it starts at quarterback with Kamario Taylor. Now, is it a little bit of a question mark? Sure, just because we've seen him in such limited action. But guys, if you saw him against Ole Miss, if you've seen him in any other action where he's played, this dude is an electric factory. I mean, straight up electric. He can do things that not many guys in this league can do. He can make guys miss. He can take off out of the pocket. He's got great arm strength. It feels like he's got great moxie and awareness. Guys, he's the highest rated quarterback recruit in program history. When you land the highest rated court, I mean, think about the quarterbacks who have gone through Mississippi State. There have been some damn good ones. How about a guy named Dak? Right? I think that rings a bell. No pun intended. You get a guy on like that on campus, man, you got to cash in immediately. Right? And Kamario Taylor is a guy that again, he can do it with his arm, he can do it with his legs. He just makes big plays and he makes big things happen. So his first full year was a starter. Let's see what he can do. But I'm really excited about Camario Taylor. Fluff Bothwell is back at running back. Obviously, injuries sort of derail what his 2025 season could be. He is a really nice player at tailback. Anthony Evans III is back at wide receiver, an exciting player on the outside. You add Marquis Johnson from Mizzou, who I think is a really nice pickup via the Portal. Sam west is back at tight end. You do add Riley Williams, the Oregon State transfer at that position. Offensive lines a major question mark, right? Two starters are back on the O line. You did add D.J. chester from LSU and L.J. prude home from Arkansas via the Portal. But guys, the offense has got to click and again, there's a lot of reason for excitement when you got a guy like Kamario Taylor who again I think is one of the most, could be one of the most exciting players in this conference. Fluff Bothwell, who I think is extremely underrated and Anthony Evans on the outside who guys think about this the last I believe two seasons, I know for sure last season the leading receiver in this conference has been a Mississippi State bulldog. They have been really productive at the receiver position. So you've got this three headed monster at the quarterback, running back, widers, your positions, if your offensive line, that's the big question here. If they can hold up their end of the bargain. This should be a really, really productive offense in my opinion. It should be at minimum top half of the league at minimum. Right. Could this be a top five offense in the sec? I mean I, I think it could. I think there's a lot of reason for optimism here. Now there's still a lot of question marks. Again, Kamario Taylor is not a surefire thing. What does his first season under center really look like? But boy, I will roll the dice with a guy like that who again is the number one highest rated quarterback recruitment program history and can make the electric plays that he can and has the weapons at his disposal that he has. What does the offensive line give you? The offense just has to click for Mississippi State. There is no excuse in year number three of Jeff Levy for the offense not to be good. And the offense is the least of my concerns when it comes to Mississippi State because as we move into the defense and what that looks like, guys, that's got to be where the big questions lie. You did bring in, bring back Zach Arnett to start. Well, this is a guy, he just can't leave Starville. You bring Zach Garnett back to help boost this defense and really just completely turn around this defense because they, they've been terrible guys. They have been absolutely God awful since Jeff Levy got there. They have finished last or next to last the last two seasons. Who would have thought Coleman Hustler wasn't the right hire. That was one we weren't really high on. But Zach Garnett, guys, when he was there leading the defense, I mean we're talking about it. Yeah, like Mississippi State has always been known for these ferocious defensive lines and like at minimum you knew you were in for a fight because the defense was always really salty. I mean they have produced some fantastic players across the defensive front. Just hasn't been there the last couple years. Right. So can he get the defense turned around? How quickly can he get it turned around? Calvin Dinkins, DJ Reed, Jeray Bledsoe, all man the interior. You do add Amari Williams from Florida State to help out with a pass Rust. Will Witson is back as well at the edge position. Jalen Smith, Zakari Tillman are both back at linebacker and the secondary should be a strength. You've got Isaac Smith and Kelly Jones who are returning in two fantastic players, two guys who could play themselves into getting their names called pretty early on in the NFL draft. So I think there are pieces here. I think secondary should be really solid. Again, a lot of veteran leadership at linebacker, which should help with implementing Zach Garnett's scheme early. But to me, guys, this is the big question when it comes to Mississippi State, because I think you're going to have an offense that can compete. It's just how quickly does the defense come around? Pass rush is a major question. Major, major question. They need to hit on Amari Williams. They need some of these guys on the defensive front to really splash and really pan out for them. Guys, let's move into special teams. Kyle Ferries back at kicker. He's fourth in the program in program history in points. Fantastic player for Mississippi State. Had a big 2025 campaign. I believe he set the individual season record for points in a season. If I do recall. Ethan Pullum back at punter. You got some really interesting and fun options when it comes to return man. Anthony Evans, Marquis Johnson, Colin Wilson, they could all factor in the return game. So listen, you're a team like Mississippi State. You're trying to overachieve, you're trying to make some things happen. Flipping the field in special teams. Pump return, touchdown, kick return, touchdown. I mean, guys, we talk about special teams. Think about how much special teams hurt Mississippi State a season ago. Ryan Niblet. That name ring a bell at all? It cost you the Texas game. Flat out, it cost Mississippi State that Texas game. So if anybody knows how important special teams are, it should be Mississippi State fans. That being said, guys, as we give our overall outlook for Mississippi State, let's take a look at what our friends over at Kalshee say about the Bulldogs as far as win totals. Cow. She gives Mississippi State a 67 chance to win four or more games, 50% chance to win five or more games, 37 chance to win six or more. For some reason, they don't have a percentage chance to win seven or more. They they give them an 11 chance to win eight or more. And if you're really feeling frisky. 8% chance to win 12 games. So you set kind of the over, under. It's right at about, right at about five and a half. That's where you see the big drop off, five and a half. And I, I think that number, that number feels about right because when you look at Mississippi State, nine starters are back. Three on the offensive side, six on the defensive side. And as we take a Look at the 2026 schedule, how does the schedule set up for Hale State? Well, you start non conference play, Ulm at home at Minnesota. Week two is really, really interesting. And a game I think is a tone setter, no doubt for Mississippi State season. I think if you're going to overachieve, if you're going to hit six wins, if you're going to get to a bowl game, feels like Minnesota probably needs to be part of that equation. You open up SEC play at South Carolina. This is another massive, massive game for Mississippi State. Heck, it's a massive game for South Carolina as well. It's one of the most. It'll be a very under the radar contest because the winner of that game probably ain't winning a national championship or factoring in to the College Football Playoff picture, let's just be totally honest. But it is a massive game for each respective program because I tell you this, the coach that loses that football game is going to be, it's going to be dire, right? It's, it's going to be tough to recover from that. So can you get off to a 10 start in SEC play? Can you get off to a 3, 0 start? That's going to be a huge game to open up conference play for Mississippi State. Your SEC home opener. You get the Missouri Tigers. Alabama is back on your schedule. The following week they come to Starkville. Then you have a bye week. Then you're at lsu, Oklahoma at home at Texas. What a three game stretch that is the month of October is not kind. Then you have Vandy at home to kick off November you get Auburn at home, Tennessee Tech, and then at Ole Miss of course in the Egg bowl to close out the season. I mean listen guys, Mississippi State has a tough schedule. They have a tough schedule every year. I mean lather, rinse, repeat, right? Mississippi State and having a tough schedule just goes hand in hand. Like I said guys, I think going 30 and non cons pivotal. And then you start to look at the SEC schedule right at South Carolina is massive. Auburn is massive, Vandy is massive. Missouri is massive. Because you realistically, I Mean, who knows? Bama at home, I, I think that one's going to be really tough at LSU is going to be extremely difficult. Oklahoma at home, really difficult. At Texas, really difficult. And then, hey, the Egg Bowl, I mean, who knows? Who knows? That game is so unpredictable, so wacky. Who knows what Ole Miss looks like Year one of Pete Golding. It is a schedule, though. Again, can you get off to a hot start? Can you get off to a hot start? Because, I mean, when you get into October, guys, there's a very good chance you have a defeated October just because of how difficult that schedule is. And then can you finish strong? Vandy, Auburn, Tennessee Tech, Ole Miss. Can you go three and one? Can you go two and two? Right? So I would say the beginning of the schedule, the end of the schedule, a lot of opportunity. Middle. The schedule, just survive. Just survive the middle. I mean, guys, if you can win one out of Bama, lsu, ou, Texas, boy, you have really done something. You have really accomplished something special. So with that being said, guys, the overall outlook for Mississippi State, like, I started off this conversation with, and I want to bring it back full circle, how hot is Jeff Levy seat? Let's just bring the question to this. What does Jeff Levy need to do to return as head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs in 2027? I think you got to reach a bowl game. I think you got to get to a bowl game. I think you have to get to a bowl game, you got to win multiple SEC games. I mean, you're gonna have to, like, you don't have a choice. I mean, if you're, if you're gonna win five games, you got to win multiple SEC games. Like, the big question is, what can, what must Jeff Levy do to show real promise and progress with this program? Here's the tough thing about Mississippi State, though. It is a really difficult job because, listen, I love college baseball. Many of you probably know that. But when your number one sport is openly college baseball, that doesn't help the football program. It just doesn't. So it's. It's just really difficult for me to sit here and say that, yeah, man, going five and seven shows the, the positive trajectory we're looking for. Like I said, from what I was told after the egg bowl by somebody who works on that staff, 7 and 5 is their goal. 7 and 5 is what they're shooting for. I think with this offense, Mississippi State can be a really, really fun team to watch. I think they can be a team that upsets the established order. What. What is the, the old phrase flips the, the milk card or the flips the wagon. I don't even know. Whatever it is, they can be a thorn in the side of somebody. I, I think Mississippi State will get somebody this season. I, I do. Will it be enough to get to 6 and 6? Will it be enough to get to 7 and 5? I don't know. But let me answer my own question. What does Jeff Levy need to do to return in 2027? Here's what I think the expectation should be in year three. Seven and five are better. He's a hundred percent back. Job well done. 6 and 6 should still be retained. I think he should still be retained. If you get the postseason play five and seven, I'd let him go. I'd let him go. But then again, I, I don't know. Mississippi State has a much bigger problem than I think the head coaching position. Four and eight are worse. He should be gone. I, there is just no excuse for it. If you go 5 and 7 and you win multiple SEC games. The tough thing about that and why that's such a gray area is because it's like, hey, well, we showed progress. We want, we doubled our SEC win total from last year. And I think Mississippi State, here's the, here's the, here's the real problem with five and seven. Mississippi State. I said baseball is the number one sport. I think it is. But they have made an investment into football. They have, they have. I mean, there have been donors that have stepped up. I think six and six are better is the goal, man. I think six and six are Better. Jeff Levy's 100 back. Five and seven are worse. It might be time to go a different direction. But the big key is this. The offense should be there. Can they get back to playing? Can, can Zach Arnett bring a defense that has finished dead last in the SEC over the last couple years? Can he get it back to respectability? Can they stop a nosebleed? Can they get to the middle of the pack on defense? I think that's a very fair first year expectation or first year goal, if you will. I don't think he's going to work miracles overnight. I don't think he's going to bring this defense out to be in top five or top three in the league, but just be half decent. If you can do that with what you got on the offensive side with the weapons that you have. I, I could argue 6 and 6 should be the minimum expectation. You could argue there's enough there. Anything short of that is missing the mark. So it is a huge year for Mississippi State upcoming this season. Camario Taylor should be one of the most exciting and one of the most dynamic players. He could be the player that is makes the biggest splash of these newcomer quarterbacks. He has that type of potential. He has that type of wow factor at the quarterback position. But a huge year for Jeff Levy. Year three upcoming in Starfle Guys, love to hear your thoughts. How do you feel about the Mississippi State bulldogs heading into 2026? The countdown to kickoff for Hale State is officially on. Sa. Sam.