Alabama's defense ran the show against Mississippi State, intercepting Heisman hopeful Dak Prescott three times en route to a 25-20 win.
Turning Point:
The major swing happened mid-way through the second quarter, With Alabama leading 12-0. After an acrobatic Amari Cooper catch set Alabama up inside the five, the refs ruled Derrick Henry had fumbled on the next play, giving Mississippi State the ball back...but replay showed Henry had already crossed the goal line when the ball came out. Instead of 12-0 with momentum, Mississippi State found themselves trailing 19-0...and that turned out to be too much of a lead for them to overcome.
Alabama MVP:
While Cooper and RB T.J. Yeldon both had solid games, it was QB Blake Sims that really made it happen. Sims extended several drives with neat running and passing, and he limited his mistakes in a game where it was absolutely critical to avoid turnovers. Sims finished his day 19/31 with 211 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. He also rushed the ball four times for 18 yards.
Stat of the Game:
Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott, once a Heisman frontrunner, threw three interceptions today - the last one coming in the fourth quarter and de-railing the Bulldogs comeback chances. Alabama's defense kept Prescott and the Bulldogs offense in check throughout, and deserve plenty of credit for today's win.
What's Next?
Mississippi State will likely drop out of the CFB Playoff Rankings top four, with Alabama moving in to take their place. The Crimson Tide have a tune-up game against Western Carolina next weekend before their Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn on Nov. 29. Mississippi State might be out of the playoff for now, but they aren't out of the picture entirely - a win against Vanderbilt next week and a victory in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss could see them back in, should other results go their way.
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