Inquiring Minds Want to Know

 IMWTK (INQUIRING MINDS 

WANT TO KNOW)

Well, here we are less than a week from the Bulldogs' 2026 season opener against ULM. This is one we're supposed to win -- one of two games that I'd guess everyone expects us to win. Of course, we've all seen State teams lose to presumed cupcake teams before. In fact, back when ULM was known as Northeast Louisiana, they tied us in Bob Tyler's first game as head coach in1972, then beat us with Jackie as our coach in 1995. And remember Ahmad Hardy, the fearsome Mizzou RB from Lawrence Co. (MS) High school, who stomped over, around, and through State's D for 300 yds. last season? He began his career as a ULM Warhawk, where as a true freshman he led the team in rushing and was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. The Warhawks will have some players, but not enough that they should beat MSU or any other SEC team. But as we learned most recently when getting our clocks cleaned by Toledo two seasons ago, Dear Ole State should take no opponent for granted.

For the past summer ... heck, since last season ... I have actually dreaded the coming season. By now, however, I've read all of the propaganda and listened to the podcasters who have gradually shifted to a "wanting is getting" mentality, and they've moved me in that direction ... by maybe a millimeter and given a slight tint of maroon to my lenses. After listening to a recent episode I laughed as the podcasters strung together a fantastical series of what if's and if only's that went something like "if we can just beat Minnesota and So. Carolina on the road in games 2 and 3, then we have a good shot at beating Mizzou at home, and that would mean we're 4 - 0 going into the UAT game, which is at home, so we've got a chance to beat 2 ranked teams and go 5 - 0, and who knows what happens then?!?" Okaaaay ... just one question:  How???😕 This reminded me of an early SNL skit of a PBS channel with a pipe-smoking professor speaking on alternative history. Someone called in to ask him, "What would've happened if Superman (Uberman in German) had fought on the side of the Nazis in WWII?" Similar logic and plausibility here. 

Even though my expectations for the season are unchanged, I have improved my attitude so that I'm actually looking forward to going to some games, starting with the ULM game Saturday night. And I'm really curious about what the season will bring. I have (to use a Lebbyism) "a ton" of questions as we approach the season, some of which we'll begin to find hints on answers to against the Warhawks. Here are my burning questions (listed in ascending order of importance, i.e., least to most important, to the outcome for the season):

1. Special teams - State has a proven placekicker and a proven punter. The concern goes more toward related areas, namely ...
• Deep snapper - Can the guy(s) who snap the ball to the holder on kicks and to the punter get those guys the ball quickly and accurately? Their predecessors could.
• Kick returners - Last season there was a steep drop-off from Tulu and Zavion of previous seasons. Is there someone who can give the 'Dogs a couple of long returns for TD's or at least the occasional short field to enhance our scoring chances?
2. Secondary - We know cornerback Kelley Jones is a proven commodity whom other teams avoided last season. They simply threw to the other side. Can we find a corner on the other side to make it tough on most teams? And we know Isaac Smith is a force, but are there other safeties who can give us back end help?
3. LB's - After years under Arnett of having LB's who were at or near the top of the SEC in tackles, who were good run-stoppers and could pressure the QB, last season the MSU linebackers were just okay. Will Arnett's return mean the emergence of one or more LB's who are tough to run against and can occasionally bring the heat?
4. Receivers - Lebby's teams have always had dangerous and productive receivers. With a young QB this position becomes even more critical.
• TE - The guys who were our blocking TE's return, but who takes Traore's place as a receiving target? State is notorious for forgetting this position is an eligible receiver, but a running QB like Kamario can find a TE very handy.
• WR's - Last year MSU replaced Kevin Coleman with Brenan Thompson. Who replaces Thompson this year? We trust Evans, but which others emerge as consistent weapons?
5. RB's - Expectations were high for Fluff last season, and early in the year he delivered, but injuries and ineffective blocking diminished his production as the season wore on. Can he sustain his effectiveness against high quality competition, especially in goal line and short yardage situations? Is there another RB with the breakaway speed and receiving ability that Davon Booth gave us? MSU needs more than Fluff to pound defenses.
6. QB - Kamario has shown flashes of brilliance as a runner, and he definitely has a strong arm. Can he become a consistent passer too, especially on short and mid-range passes? And probably the most important determinant for success for the team in 2026: Can he stay healthy for 12 games?
7. DL - In 2025 the Bulldogs were 15th in the SEC in total defense, scoring defense, and sacking the QB. They were dead last in rushing defense. Much of that was because the DL simply did not appear to have the talent to compete in the SEC. They were a little better than they had been in 2024, but that is faint praise indeed. A "Great Leap Forward" (as Chairman Mao would have said) is essential to be competitive in SEC games.
8. OL - As important as improvement of the 'Dog DL is, that of the OL may be more important. Last year MSU was in the middle of the pack of the SEC in total offense, scoring offense, rushing, passing, and converting on 3rd down. If the OL can improve even a little, the horizon moves considerably closer. Holes have to be opened for Fluff and the other RB's, and the young QB must be protected. The staff brought in lots of big offensive linemen from the portal, many of whom had a respectable amount of Power 4 experience. For the Bulldogs to be competitive in the SEC, these guys have to show that they are SEC caliber.
9. Coaching - It's not exactly breaking news that in the minds of many MSU fans Jeff Lebby is on the proverbial "hot seat" and has been since his team was thumped by Holy Toledo at home in the third game of his first season. The inability to win an SEC game against anyone but Arkansas has hardly lowered the temperature.
• Assistants - As we know, Lebby has assembled a platoon of assistant coaches who have had head coaching experience. He replaced fan whipping boy DC and replaced him with Zac Arnett, a favorite of many (but of course not all) MSU fans from his previous stint at State. Whether the right puzzle pieces are in place and they all fit together harmoniously and synergistically will soon be determined.
• Head - Inevitably the key question is whether Miss. State made a good decision in hiring Jeff Lebby, a young offensive guru seemingly on an upward trajectory, as the head coach. The first year gave little affirmation that it was a good hire, but most fans (perhaps with gritted teeth) were willing to cut him some slack given his dearth of inherited and assembled talent. His second season was better in terms of record and overall competitiveness against Power 4 teams, although a late season swoon (perhaps a regression to the mean?) rubbed much of the luster off early gains. His own faux pas, which he was reluctant to own, in a couple of close losses didn't help. The program -- the staff and the players -- are now clearly Lebby's. He is, in my view, in his "fish or cut bait" year in the court of MSU fan opinion; it's now or never.

Those are my questions and my thoughts as our Bulldogs begin the 2026 season Saturday night. I think State will win handily. To keep the rats on the ship we'd better! Some of the above questions will begin to be answered, but we'll probably have to play 3 or 4 games into the season before we can have firm answers. I don't think I'm overstating it to say that not only is Jeff Lebby's future at stake; so is that of the Miss. State football program for the foreseeable future. In this day and age of college football, a program cannot afford to linger on the bottom too long. Yes, Vanderbilt and Indiana are examples of those who have escaped upward, although the long range futures of those programs are to be seen. Change is an answer, but not necessarily a good one. I can't help but feel that starting all over repeatedly with a new coach is not the right path on the road to SEC gridiron success ... or in our case, competitiveness.  

For now I think we State fans can only hope, wait, support, cheer, and ring (responsibly) as we wait for the Great Carnac to open the envelopes. Long ago Eddie Brigati and the Rascals (with some lithe friends cavorting about) gazed into a crystal ball and asked the musical question for us on the Ed Sullivan Show How Can I Be Sure? [yep, click it].

Hail, State!!