Three Storylines to Follow as Mississippi State Football Faces Auburn on Saturday

After a much-needed open date, Mississippi State will return to the soccer discipline because it takes on Auburn on Saturday night in Starkville.

The Bulldogs (5-3, 2-3) took down the Tigers (3-5, 1-4) final season in a outstanding comeback on the Plains after being down by a rating of 28-3 halfway via the second quarter. Each applications have had a busy week of preparation, with off-the-field information shaking up the SEC and creating many questions heading into the massive recreation.

Listed below are three storylines to concentrate to as the 2 groups meet on this weekend’s highly-anticipated matchup.

1. What impression will the employees turnover inside the two applications have on the weekend’s matchup?

One of many largest information tales throughout the SEC this week has centered round some modifications inside the Mississippi State and Auburn athletic departments. Former MSU AD John Cohen left the Bulldogs for the Tigers on Monday morning, and Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin was fired shortly after the information of Cohen’s hiring grew to become official. Feelings have run rampant throughout the 2 applications and rival fanbases all week, and that might actually enhance the depth on the gridiron. Plus, Auburn needs to be enjoying with a fiery willpower in interim head coach Cadillac Williams’ first recreation.

2. Does Will Rogers bounce again from two tough outings?

Quarterback Rogers had an open date to get some much-needed relaxation, and he’ll now look to impress as soon as once more. The signal-caller struggled within the Bulldogs’ most up-to-date losses to Kentucky and Alabama. When dealing with the Wildcats, Rogers went 25-of-37 passing for 203 yards with one landing and one interception — his lowest complete yardage on the season. Issues had been worse in Tuscaloosa, the place he had no touchdowns throughout an outing during which he went 30-of-60 passing for 213 yards. As probably the most pivotal a part of the Bulldogs’ Air Raid offense, Rogers must have an enormous recreation to regain a few of his momentum heading into the ultimate few video games of the yr.

3. Can Mississippi State grow to be bowl eligible for the thirteenth straight season?

The Bulldogs have 5 wins on the yr with 4 extra common season video games remaining. The group ought to make it to the postseason this yr — it has an awesome likelihood of defeating 3-6 FCS opponent East Tennessee State later within the season to choose up not less than a sixth win — however locking up a bowl recreation sooner moderately than later is essential. The extra alternatives that Mississippi State has to spice up its resume forward of the ultimate bowl picks, the higher likelihood it should have of going to a extra prestigious bowl in the direction of the tip of the yr. Out of the three remaining SEC applications that the Bulldogs will face, Auburn is arguably probably the most beatable. Saturday’s ultimate rating might make or break what the postseason will appear like for this system.