CFB Offseason Thread

[Dawg83]

The Oklahoma rumor for State was wrong, they will be at Texas.

 

Road: Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee

Home: A&M, Arkansas, Florida, Mizzou

 

Other than playing at Georgia and arguably Tennessee, that’s not a terrible schedule for State.

[Dawg83]

OM’s schedule:

 

Home: State, Kentucky, Georgia, Oklahoma

Road: LSU, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina

 

I think I prefer State’s 2024 schedule when comparing the two.

[MSTSatchmo]

4 hours ago, Dawg83 said:

The Oklahoma rumor for State was wrong, they will be at Texas.

 

Road: Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee

Home: A&M, Arkansas, Florida, Mizzou

 

Other than playing at Georgia and arguably Tennessee, that’s not a terrible schedule for State.

I’ve been reading people say “the SEC hates state” because of the schedule, but I agree with you.   Those home games are “toss up” games.  The more likely to lose games are on the road.  Can’t as for more than that.   
 

Of course that’s assuming there isn’t a huge drop off with the new staff. 

[Dawg83]

1 hour ago, MSTSatchmo said:

I’ve been reading people say “the SEC hates state” because of the schedule, but I agree with you.   Those home games are “toss up” games.  The more likely to lose games are on the road.  Can’t as for more than that.   
 

Of course that’s assuming there isn’t a huge drop off with the new staff. 

It’s a schedule without Bama, LSU, or Auburn on it. Historically speaking I don’t know how that’s viewed as anything other than a great thing.

[Bulldogs4]

State traditionally played a very difficult conference schedule. When I was growing up in the 60’s, 70’s and even through the 80’s we played Florida, Bama, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss every year plus one or two other teams. That did not really change until 1992 when Arkansas and SCAR joined and we stopped playing FL every year. 

2024 will seem strange because those three teams are not on the schedule. And it certainly does not guarantee any more wins but I am glad to see us play some of the other teams that we rarely play. Even if it is just for one season. 
 

Will be interesting to see how 2025 and future schedules get ironed out eventually.
I think the the 3/6 schedule playing 9 conference games each year is going to be what is finally adopted. Though there are some disadvantages to that schedule as well.

 

I know there is some sentiment to keeping it at 8 games with a 1/7 rotation. Obviously, that keeps us playing Ole Miss every year with no other permanent teams on the schedule. Some drawbacks there as well because some of the secondary rivalry games will no longer be every year. 
 

We will see how it shakes out in the future years but State did IMO catch a break in 2024 by having those three off for a year. 
 

[MSTSatchmo]

Rufus Harvey enters the portal for State after it has closed.  That’s weird.  
I guess it’s for the portal opening after next season? 

[pancho]

He supposedly has a potential career ending spinal issue to contend with.

[MSTSatchmo]

26 minutes ago, pancho said:

He supposedly has a potential career ending spinal issue to contend with.

 
WOW. I hate to hear that.  

[BrickCity]

I will say I thought A&M would dominate when they entered the SEC. They have been about average in line with the Rest of the conference with the exception of bama and Georgia. 
I being hopeful that Texas and Oklahoma will fit in about the same. I’m sure they will Have some good years but more than likely they will be average with the rest of us 

[Dawg83]

19 hours ago, MSTSatchmo said:

Rufus Harvey enters the portal for State after it has closed.  That’s weird.  
I guess it’s for the portal opening after next season? 

Yeah the story on this is apparently State’s doctors won’t clear him to play, so he’s going to try and find somebody else that will. But I’m not totally sure that he will. There’s a chance he is done with football and has to go on a medical hardship scholly.

 

I really do hate it, he was a good, dependable player for State last year. And from all indications a good guy, too.

[Dawg83]

3 hours ago, BrickCity said:

I will say I thought A&M would dominate when they entered the SEC. They have been about average in line with the Rest of the conference with the exception of bama and Georgia. 
I being hopeful that Texas and Oklahoma will fit in about the same. I’m sure they will Have some good years but more than likely they will be average with the rest of us 

I bought into the A&M hype too, especially after they went 11-2 in their first year in the league. But in hindsight that had more to do with Johnny Manziel than anything else. Jimbo did have the really strong year in 2020 but they have definitely regressed since.

 

Texas has lost at least four games in all but one year since they played for a BCS championship in 2009. I like Sark but I’m not sure he’s the one to drastically change things there.

 

I don’t really know what to make of Oklahoma. If it was a Stoops or Riley OU, I think they’d have a chance to do very well. But now, I’m just not sure. They look like they are moving in the totally wrong direction for a program soon to join a much tougher league.

[maroontide06]

So does Deion Sanders get his foot amputated or do they find a way to save it?  I think they'll try to exhaust every dollar to save it, but knowing that the amputations to his toes didn't work makes you wonder.

[pancho]

He'll probably coach from a hospital bed as the right rev freeze did

[MSTSatchmo]

On 6/16/2023 at 11:53 AM, Dawg83 said:

I bought into the A&M hype too, especially after they went 11-2 in their first year in the league. But in hindsight that had more to do with Johnny Manziel than anything else. Jimbo did have the really strong year in 2020 but they have definitely regressed since.

 

Texas has lost at least four games in all but one year since they played for a BCS championship in 2009. I like Sark but I’m not sure he’s the one to drastically change things there.

 

I don’t really know what to make of Oklahoma. If it was a Stoops or Riley OU, I think they’d have a chance to do very well. But now, I’m just not sure. They look like they are moving in the totally wrong direction for a program soon to join a much tougher league.

I’ve always thought Texas and OU are two of just a handful of programs Kiffin would leave OM for.   Another average year at Texas and Sark could be gone.  
 

Speaking of Kiffin, is he trying to stockpile QBs like Freeze did WRs?   The most recent  QB addition should just be a junior in high school. 

[Dawg83]

It’s super early in the process and I never read much into it this far out from signing day, but Arnett has definitely had a surge of recruiting momentum lately. State has gotten four different 4 Star commitments in the last week.

[Dawg83]

Now just under 8 weeks until opening weekend (7 if you count the Week 0 games and if Notre Dame vs Navy in Dublin or Hawaii at Vandy piques your interest). SEC Media Days are next week so you’ll start to see more and more of the preseason prognostications pretty soon.

 

I fully expect State to be picked last in the West (I’d have Arkansas there) and Ole Miss picked around 4th. I personally have State slightly ahead of Ole Miss right now, but that’s based on an assumption that Zach Arnett is going to be a competent head coach, and we obviously don’t know for sure yet.

 

I also view LSU and Bama as a clear Top 2 in the West and think there may be a pretty decent gap after those two. I won’t be shocked if LSU is picked to win the West, there’s a lot to like about what they return from last year, and Bama has questions at key positions. The Opening Weekend schedule is fairly weak this year but LSU-Florida State in Orlando is far and away the most interesting game of that weekend.

Edited July 10, 2023 by Dawg83

[maroontide06]

1 hour ago, Dawg83 said:

Now just under 8 weeks until opening weekend (7 if you count the Week 0 games and if Notre Dame vs Navy in Dublin or Hawaii at Vandy piques your interest). SEC Media Days are next week so you’ll start to see more and more of the preseason prognostications pretty soon.

 

I fully expect State to be picked last in the West (I’d have Arkansas there) and Ole Miss picked around 4th. I personally have State slightly ahead of Ole Miss right now, but that’s based on an assumption that Zach Arnett is going to be a competent head coach, and we obviously don’t know for sure yet.

 

I also view LSU and Bama as a clear Top 2 in the West and think there may be a pretty decent gap after those two. I won’t be shocked if LSU is picked to win the West, there’s a lot to like about what they return from last year, and Bama has questions at key positions. The Opening Weekend schedule is fairly weak this year but LSU-Florida State in Orlando is far and away the most interesting game of that weekend.

I'm looking forward to getting some new Interlocking MSU gear.  Hopefully it'll start going on sale by the end of this month.  It wouldn't be true to form if they didn't pick State last in the West LOL!

[Dawg83]

4 hours ago, maroontide06 said:

I'm looking forward to getting some new Interlocking MSU gear.  Hopefully it'll start going on sale by the end of this month.  It wouldn't be true to form if they didn't pick State last in the West LOL!

Yeah rumor is that the interlocking MSU is making a comeback this year as a throwback jersey, to commemorate the 25 year anniversary of the ‘98 West Championship team. It’s going to be tough to put that toothpaste back in the tube and only do it as a one off, though. People will be REALLY begging for it to come back full time at that point.

 

Supposedly State is also changing its base uniform set this year. They’ve had the current iteration since the last couple of Mullen years. I don’t hate their current set but have never loved the MISSISSIPPI STATE banner across the chest. That logo looks like it belongs on letterhead in cardstock. But supposedly that logo is being removed now.

[Dawg83]

State released their new primary home uniforms last night. Simple look, but I think it’s an improvement.

 

Goodbye M-State helmets, hello Script State.

[maroontide06]

21 minutes ago, Dawg83 said:

State released their new primary home uniforms last night. Simple look, but I think it’s an improvement.

 

Goodbye M-State helmets, hello Script State.

They definitely look better, but the small M-State logo reminds me of the Croom Era uniforms.  I think if they would have taken the "MISS. STATE" from the Dowsing-Bell Uniforms last year and straightened it out or taken it from the practice jerseys and put that across the chest, I think that would make them absolutely fantastic.

[Dawg83]

4 hours ago, maroontide06 said:

They definitely look better, but the small M-State logo reminds me of the Croom Era uniforms.  I think if they would have taken the "MISS. STATE" from the Dowsing-Bell Uniforms last year and straightened it out or taken it from the practice jerseys and put that across the chest, I think that would make them absolutely fantastic.

I could definitely get on board with that.

[maroontide06]

@BrickCity Do you think Vic Sutton and Chris Parson will redshirt this year?  Will and Mike are both seniors, but I don't know if they've got extra eligibility beyond this year.  They might if they've got the covid year to use.  I think both Chris and Vic are great fits for Mississippi State and I'd like to see them at Mississippi State for as long as they possibly can hang around.  Hopefully Vic can get a scholarship (and I think he will).  I remember when we had to burn Arceto Clark's redshirt and I'm thankful that players can now play in up to 4 games and still preserve it.

[MSTSatchmo]

Does anyone think that either Rogers or Dart will not be the starter by the end of the season?  
 

[maroontide06]

With the QB's that OM brought in, it makes you wonder if it's Dart's job to lose.  I think the only way that Will would get replaced is if he got seriously hurt or starts laying eggs.  Hopefully none of those things happen, but they always say that the backup QB is literally one play away from being the starter.

[Bulldogs4]

Rogers has an extra year of eligibility because of COVID. Ideally, Rogers and Wright can handle the duties this year and Parson can play 3/4 games to get some experience while retaining his RS status. 

Not sure about Wright though but if Rogers decides to play in 2024 that would be be a win-win for State with Parson in the wings next year as well to get some playing time to be ready to take the reins in 2025.