
Key notes on the Mississippi State Bulldogs: Mike Leach is going into his second season with the Bulldogs and was 4-7 last season including a win over Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl; The Bulldogs made a splash in his first game last season beating LSU 44-34 as a 16-point underdog while passing for 623 yards. Then they lost their next four; the Bulldogs averaged 21.4 points per game and had no running game threat, and they allowed 28.1 points per game; 16 starters return, 8 on each side of the line; Will Rogers started as a freshman at quarterback and passed for just under 2000 yards; State opens the season at home against Louisiana Tech and will play their SEC opener at home against LSU September 25th.