A Great Measuring Stick Awaits
September 02, 2024 | Football, Joel Coleman
After a season-opening win, the competition heats up for MSU as the Bulldogs head to Arizona State.
STARKVILLE – Things are heating up for Mississippi State this week, and it's not just because the Dawgs are headed towards the desert.
Fresh off a dominant 56-7 season-opening win over Eastern Kentucky, MSU is set for a road challenge at Arizona State. It marks the first FBS opponent and road game of the head coach Jeff Lebby era at State, and the first-year leader of the Dawgs said at his weekly press conference on Monday he believes he's about to learn a lot about his squad out west.
"I think it's going to be a great measuring stick," Lebby said of the upcoming contest. "You look at Arizona State and the way they played in all three phases last Saturday night – just an incredibly dominant performance over a well-coached, tough Wyoming football team. You watch the tape and see [Arizona State is] a completely different football team than they were a year ago.
"So for us, having the mentality and mindset to be able to go in and play with great detail [is key]. Our effort, execution and physicality at the end of the day is what will give us an opportunity to go win. It's a great measuring stick for us to see where we are at."
As Lebby alluded to, the Sun Devils certainly showed how dangerous they can be in their season opener. Much like MSU, Arizona State had little trouble moving to 1-0.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 258 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Sun Devils cruised to a 48-7 triumph. Arizona State's defense held Wyoming to just 118 total yards of offense.
So, Lebby and the Bulldogs understand that for as great as it was to kick off 2024 by blowing out Eastern Kentucky, the guys in Maroon and White must be even better this week to enjoy success.
"For us, it is making sure we are learning lessons through victory," Lebby said of his team's mindset coming out of the weekend's win. "I think with the guys, as they showed back up in the building [Monday] morning and as they were around yesterday for treatment and to get a meal, our guys have great intent inside these walls right now. We look to improve in a bunch of different areas. There's stuff all over the tape that we've got to continue to clean up."
Lebby explained further the places he sees where his group can be improved.
"We missed some opportunities [against Eastern Kentucky]," Lebby said. "Offensively, when you look at it, in the first half we had opportunities where on back-to-back drives we end up not scoring points on a fourth-down non-conversion. We punt on fourth-and-1 there at midfield, really because of the weather. So, you look at those two drives and you got a chance to be up 49-0 at half and we really should've been. So really understanding those lessons inside those two drives is huge.
"Defensively, that two-minute drive right before the half [was something to learn from]. [We had] the ability to get off the field on some third-down situations. We forced them into another third-and-7 down there on the seven and [had the chance] to get off the field or hold them to a field goal. Some incredible teaching points inside that moment. So, all kinds of different things that we have the opportunity to clean up. We look forward to getting better, playing better and preparing better. That's what we're trying to get done."
The work is already well underway for the Bulldogs as they get set to stare down the Sun Devils. They'll maintain their usual morning practice schedule each day this week ahead of travel to Tempe on Thursday.
Kickoff on Saturday is set for 9:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by ESPN.