Over the past 5 seasons with winning streaks over the likes of Vandy, USCe and Mizzou, the common refrain has been “the next step is beating UF, UT and UGA.”
And while those games are important and winnable (maybe excluding UGA) I would argue that the next logical step for a continued climb is BEATING MISSISSIPPI STATE IN STARKVILLE.
We’ve won in Knoxville (2021), in Gainesville (2018), and actually have had winning streaks on the road in both Columbia’s and currently have a winning streak in Nashville.
But during the Stoops era, we have no wins in Starkville, Mississippi . . . made to look all-the-more odd by having a win in both Gainesville and Knoxville.
With winnable games at home against a wounded (probated?) UT, Mizzou (who is improving), a road game against a depleted USCe, and a highly winnable game against Vandy in Nashville, the likeliest key to cracking a winning record in the SEC is our trip to Starkville.
I think we have a good shot to beat UF and LSU at home, but history and recruiting rankings suggest that the Mississippi State game is the fulcrum for a potential winning SEC slate.
And while those games are important and winnable (maybe excluding UGA) I would argue that the next logical step for a continued climb is BEATING MISSISSIPPI STATE IN STARKVILLE.
We’ve won in Knoxville (2021), in Gainesville (2018), and actually have had winning streaks on the road in both Columbia’s and currently have a winning streak in Nashville.
But during the Stoops era, we have no wins in Starkville, Mississippi . . . made to look all-the-more odd by having a win in both Gainesville and Knoxville.
With winnable games at home against a wounded (probated?) UT, Mizzou (who is improving), a road game against a depleted USCe, and a highly winnable game against Vandy in Nashville, the likeliest key to cracking a winning record in the SEC is our trip to Starkville.
I think we have a good shot to beat UF and LSU at home, but history and recruiting rankings suggest that the Mississippi State game is the fulcrum for a potential winning SEC slate.