Mississippi State
Coach: Dan Mullen, eighth season (55-35, all at Mississippi State).
Last year: 9-4 overall, 4-4 in the SEC (T-5th in the West). Defeated North Carolina State 51-28 in the Belk Bowl.
Best case scenario: Dak Prescott, the face of the program the past few seasons, is going to be missed, but Mullen’s offense continues to set the winning pace for the Bulldogs behind a new starting quarterback, likely Nick Fitzgerald, who has been groomed to fit the proven system. Opening SEC play with a win at LSU would be huge.