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College Football Blitz, Week 3: Clemson isn’t going anywhere

By Jack Crosby

LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 16: Clemson Tigers quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) carries the ball during the NCAA football game against the Clemson Tigers and the Louisville Cardinals on September 16th 2017, at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - SEPTEMBER 16: Clemson Tigers quarterback Kelly Bryant (2) carries the ball during the NCAA football game against the Clemson Tigers and the Louisville Cardinals on September 16th 2017, at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, KY. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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OXFORD, MS – NOVEMBER 26: Head Coach Dan Mullen of the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the sidelines during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Rebels 55-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS – NOVEMBER 26: Head Coach Dan Mullen of the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the sidelines during a game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Rebels 55-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

SEC: Mississippi State, the new No. 2 in the SEC West

There was a very simple, popular narrative entering the 2017 college football season: the SEC was Alabama, LSU and then … LOL, good luck everyone else. Through two weeks of the season, that narrative was ringing true given the performances of the Tide and Tigers.

Then Week 3 happened, a week in which Dan Mullen and Mississippi State shoved their way toward the front of the line in the form of a 37-7 thrashing of LSU on Saturday night in Starkville. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald led this offense well both with his arm (two TDs through the air) and his legs (88 yards on the ground and two more scores) and running back Aeris Williams was stupendous on the ground, rushing for 146 yards on 23 carries. But what stood out the most in the win was the play of the Bulldogs defense, which didn’t allow a touchdown pass nor did they let Heisman hopeful Derrius Guice break 100 yards on the ground in this one.

It’s still early in the season, but this could end up proving to be a statement win for Mullen and this Mississippi State team. They weren’t getting the recognition they probably deserved coming into the year, but after this win on Saturday against LSU, now everyone definitely is aware they’re lingering — especially Alabama, who they’ll meet all the way on Nov. 11.

But so far, this Mississippi State squad looks to be legit, and we’ll find out more just how legit this weekend when they go on the road to take on the No. 11-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

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