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Scouting the schedule, Game 8: Mississippi State faces toughest test with road trip to Alabama – The Dispatch
Editor’s observe: That is the eighth installment of our “Scouting the schedule” collection, which breaks down each sport on Mississippi State’s 2022 soccer schedule. Half 7 was in regards to the Bulldogs’ go to to Kentucky, whereas Half 9 will element MSU’s residence matchup with Auburn.
If Mississippi State was going to beat Alabama for the primary time in additional than a decade, the 2 groups’ 2021 matchup appeared like a superb time to do it.
MSU took on a (supposedly) reeling Crimson Tide workforce coming off a loss to Texas A&M. The Bulldogs had been recent off a bye week, they usually had been internet hosting the sport at Davis Wade Stadium.
It didn’t matter.
Alabama crushed Mississippi State 49-9, and the Bulldogs should deal with much less favorable circumstances this time round.
In 2022, the Tide will host, though they gained’t be coming off a bye. However the return of quarterback Bryce Younger, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. and extra will maintain Alabama towards the highest of the rankings and make MSU’s mountain to climb significantly taller.
Mississippi State will face Alabama on Oct. 22 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama fast information
2021 report: 13-2 (7-1 SEC)
Coach: Nick Saban, sixteenth yr
ESPN Soccer Energy Index: No. 1
All-time collection: 83-16-3, Alabama leads
Final assembly: Oct. 16, 2021
Historical past
Prefer it has most groups, Alabama has dominated Mississippi State over the course of historical past.
The Crimson Tide has gained 83 of 102 matchups between the 2, profitable by a mean of practically two touchdowns. MSU hasn’t overwhelmed Alabama since back-to-back wins in 2006 and 2007, the latter of which marked Nick Saban’s first yr in Tuscaloosa.
The present 14-game skid isn’t even the worst within the rivalry’s historical past. Alabama rattled off 15 straight wins over the Bulldogs from 1981 to 1995; the Tide additionally gained yearly from 1958 to 1979, a 22-game stretch. Solely a historic 6-3 upset of the top-ranked Tide in 1980 saved Alabama from a 38-game streak of wins over the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State, in the meantime, has by no means overwhelmed Alabama greater than thrice in a row.
However then once more, few groups have — solely eight, in keeping with sports-reference.com.
2021 season
The Crimson Tide was much less dominant than traditional in 2021, however it nonetheless virtually amounted to a different title in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama rebounded from its loss to Texas A&M in fashion, profitable its last six regular-season video games — together with a four-overtime win at Auburn in an epic Iron Bowl — after which knocking off Georgia within the SEC title sport. The Tide went on to deal with Cincinnati within the School Soccer Playoff semifinals.
However Georgia had the higher hand within the nationwide championship sport, utilizing its historic protection to safe a 33-18 win and its first title since 1980.
Alabama’s 2021 season included wins over Arkansas, Ole Miss and Tennessee along with its 49-9 win in Starkville.
Quarterback Bryce Younger returns in 2022 off a Heisman Trophy-winning season wherein he put up 4,872 yards and threw 47 landing passes in opposition to simply seven interceptions.
Wideout Jameson Williams (1,572 yards, 15 touchdowns) was a first-round decide by the Detroit Lions after a torn ACL within the title sport, whereas operating again Brian Robinson Jr. was chosen within the third spherical by the Washington Commanders after a 1,392-yard season.
Receiver John Metchie III (1,142 yards, eight touchdowns) was a second-round decide of the Houston Texans.
Alabama returns the nation’s finest defensive participant in Will Anderson Jr., a top-five Heisman Trophy candidate in 2021 after an absurd 34.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks.
Linebacker Henry To’oT’o’o, who led his workforce in tackles with 102, is again in 2022.
Key additions
Alabama’s stellar recruiting class ranks behind solely Texas A&M within the 247 Sports activities composite rankings.
The Tide landed three five-star recruits, led by in-state edge rusher Jeremiah Alexander. IMG Academy edge rusher Jihaad Campbell and Tennessee quarterback Ty Simpson are the Tide’s different two five-stars.
With 21 four-star gamers, Alabama has greater than some other workforce, and the Tide additionally made a killing within the switch market.
Alabama landed five-star cornerback Eli Ricks from LSU and former Georgia Tech operating again Jahmyr Gibbs, who ran for 746 yards and added 470 receiving yards final yr.
Theo DeRosa studies on Mississippi State sports activities for The Dispatch. Comply with him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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