Fansided

College football rankings 2018: FanSided preseason Top 25

By Connor Muldowney

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) runs with the football during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 26
Next
JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 30: Montez Sweat #9 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs reacts after a tackle for loss against the Louisville Cardinals during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – DECEMBER 30: Montez Sweat #9 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs reacts after a tackle for loss against the Louisville Cardinals during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

It can’t be a good feeling to know that Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M reside in the same division as you, but Mississippi State is a team that should never be overlooked in the SEC West.

The Bulldogs are entering a new era with Joe Moorhead at the helm, replacing Dan Mullen who departed for Florida. The former Penn State offensive coordinator has the pieces to be successful on his favorite side of the ball, especially with Nick Fitzgerald back at quarterback. He’s looking to regain his 2016 form and shake off his up-and-down 2017 performance.

Most of the offensive line returns — a unit that helped lead the second-best rushing attack in the SEC — and Aeris Williams should be one of the star running backs in college football. He rushed for 1,107 yards and six scores last year.

Ranking third in the SEC in yards allowed per game a season ago, the defense brings back seven starters, including All-SEC candidate Montez Sweat who finished with 10.5 sacks last season.

Mississippi State should be one of the contenders in the SEC this season, so don’t count the Bulldogs out just because Mullen is gone.