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    • What Mississippi State’s Loss to Arizona State Said About Jeff Lebby’s Culture
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    What Mississippi State’s Loss to Arizona State Said About Jeff Lebby’s Culture

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    It was 11:10 p.m. Saturday night in Starkville when Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt stormed into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game.

    At that point, it would have been fair for Mississippi State football fans to call it a day. The Bulldogs (1-1) trailed ASU 27-3 in the final minute of the second quarter. They were dominated in almost every statistical category. New coach Jeff Lebby appeared to be headed for his first loss, and an embarrassing one at that.

    And even if you gave the second half a chance, with your eyes even slightly open, it wasn’t encouraging. Arizona State (2-0) took the opening drive of the third quarter for a field goal with 8 minutes, 27 seconds of playing time left. That nearly decided the game before Mississippi State touched the ball in the second half.

    Wrong.

    Instead, MSU scored touchdowns on three of its next four drives to cut the score to 30-23 with 5:27 to play. The defense, which had been burned for 346 rushing yards, needed one more stop to allow the offense to try to tie the game. It would have been the greatest comeback in program history.

    Mississippi State’s path to a bowl game looks murkier than it did a week ago. But there’s still encouragement in the long run after the 30-23 loss.

    “Our guys fought unbelievably in the second half and we’re going to keep that going,” Lebby said in his postgame radio interview. “We’re going to find ways to get back in the building, get back to work and walk into Davis Wade (Stadium) with a lot of confidence, ready to win a football game.”

    Cheering Mississippi State’s comeback attempt

    Lebby said after the 56-7 win over Eastern Kentucky in Week 1 that there are many teachable moments in a win, just as there are in a loss.

    There’s a lot to say after the loss to Arizona State.

    Mississippi State came out of the gate incredibly flat. The Sun Devils scored on their first five possessions. The MSU offense had one field goal, two punts, a fumble returned for a touchdown and a turnover on downs in the first half. MSU had -13 rushing yards in the first half.

    There were concerns about the travel distance, the late kickoff and the high temperature, but let’s face it, Mississippi State played so poorly early on that it was hard to judge whether those were factors.

    “I have to prepare these guys better to go out and play,” Lebby said. “I thought our energy, our effort, our emotion was really good, but then we didn’t play clean in the first quarter, so that was frustrating.”

    The Bulldogs outscored the Sun Devils 20-0 in the final quarter and a half. It was a surprise. Arizona State was rolling. Mississippi State was not.

    MORE: Meet Sam Sklar, the Clarion Ledger’s new Mississippi State reporter

    For Lebby, a first-time head coach at any level, let it be a learning experience. It was the first time he was backed into a corner. The Bulldogs adjusted properly in the second half, as good coaches do.

    The rushing offense and defense both need to improve. Really. Quarterback Blake Shapen has been impressive in his first two Mississippi State games and the wide receiver room is as deep and talented as ever, but they can’t be the only answer.

    That only applies to this season.

    Mississippi State has its first tally in the loss column. But it’s no attack on Lebby who is leading the program’s future.

    Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him at X @sklarsam_.

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