Mississippi State off to 0-2 start in SEC play

Through five games this season, the Mississippi State defense has been lights out, ranking eighth in the nation in opponent scoring.

But ever since the start of SEC play, the offense hasn’t been dishing out any compliments.

Thirteen total points against Kentucky and Florida, a far cry from MSU’s 50 points per game average during its first three wins.

Those struggles were magnified by Saturday’s loss to former head coach Dan Mullen, but the new man in charge is looking big picture as the Bulldogs look for answers leading up to Auburn. “Overall, I’d like to be 5-0, not 3-2. I’d like to have two wins in the SEC and not none. But I think from an overall program standpoint I like the way that our culture is heading and the kids believe in and the kids believe in the things we’re stressing on a daily basis to build a long-term, sustained, successful program – discipline, accountability, attention to detail, selflessness. So I like where all of those things are heading on and off the field. But I promise you it’s going to get fixed, it’s going to get better and the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s an opening, not an oncoming train. So it’s going to get better.”

MSU and Auburn kick off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday from Starkville.