Alabama
Miss State
Alabama went into Davis Wade Stadium and scored 56 points in a 56-23 win over Mississippi State, the most complete road performance of the Crimson Tide's SEC season so far. The win keeps Alabama unbeaten in conference play at 3-0. It also ends Mississippi State's early run near the top of the league standings, as the Bulldogs fall to 2-1 in SEC play.
Here are three takeaways from Starkville.
1. Keelon Russell Ran the Show for Alabama
Keelon Russell was the main reason Alabama's offense kept scoring. He finished with 285 yards and three touchdowns, and the Crimson Tide went on the road and scored on a defense that came into the game with a winning SEC record.
The touchdowns matter more than the yardage. Mississippi State had its own big offensive day, but Alabama kept answering with points. Russell turned long drives into touchdowns, and that is how a game that could have become a shootout turned into a 33-point win. Against the stronger defenses still left on the conference schedule, that efficiency will matter.
Alabama also got points from Conor Talty, who added 7 points. Talty gave the Crimson Tide steady scoring on the drives that didn't end in the end zone. When an offense scores touchdowns and also gets reliable points from its kicking game, it is hard to beat, and that is what Alabama showed in Starkville.
2. Kamario Taylor Produced, but Mississippi State's Defense Has to Answer
Mississippi State's 23 points did not come from a lack of effort on offense. Kamario Taylor matched Russell almost stat for stat, finishing with 258 yards and three touchdowns. Kyle Ferrie added 5 points. On many SEC Saturdays, Taylor's production would be enough to keep the Bulldogs close into the fourth quarter.
The problem was on the other side of the ball. Giving up 56 points at home makes it almost impossible to win, no matter what the offense does. Kalvin Dinkins recorded one sack, but Mississippi State could not put steady pressure on Alabama or get the stops it needed to turn the game into a contest. When Taylor scored, Alabama scored right back, and the Bulldogs never caught up.
The question for Mississippi State is whether its defense can recover before the next conference opponent. Taylor has shown he can carry the offense. The Bulldogs' hopes in the SEC race now depend on giving him a defense that can hold up.
3. Alabama Holds Its Ground at the Top of a Crowded SEC
The win keeps Alabama at the top of the current SEC standings at 3-0, tied in the loss column with Georgia, which is also 3-0. They are the only two teams with three conference wins and no losses. Every week they both keep winning raises the stakes for the rest of the race.
The pressure from behind is real. Florida sits at 2-0 and Texas at 1-0, so both are unbeaten in league play with fewer games played. Mississippi State drops to 2-1 but is still part of a large group in the middle. Auburn, Kentucky, LSU and Ole Miss are all 1-1, so one result can change a lot. Mississippi State still has time to recover, but a second conference loss would push the Bulldogs into that pack.
Defense was a big part of Alabama's win. London Simmons recorded two sacks and was a key part of a pass rush that pressured Mississippi State throughout the afternoon. A defense that can get to the quarterback, paired with an offense led by Russell, gives the Crimson Tide what they need to stay in the conference title race and the postseason picture. Winning by 33 points on the road in October helps Alabama's case. Now the Crimson Tide have to keep it up as the schedule gets tougher.
