College Football Playoff Ranking Projections: Top 25 for Week 10
By Zach Bigalke
Nick Fitzgerald finished with 246 total yards of offense, throwing for 141 and running for 105 to lead Mississippi State to a 35-14 takedown of Texas A&M on the road. The Bulldogs moved to 6-2 and became bowl eligible after the big win in College Station, and will likely feature in the first edition of this year’s College Football Playoff Top 25 on Tuesday.
Mississippi State’s defense came up big against the Aggies, holding Kellen Mond and Nick Starkel to 189 passing yards with one touchdown and three interceptions as they combined to go 16-of-41 on the day. Texas A&M’s backfield was contained as well, with the Bulldogs outgaining the Aggies 228-96 on the ground.
Next week’s game against UMass won’t do much to move Mississippi State further up the CFP rankings in Week 10, but they get a statement opportunity in two weeks when Alabama comes to Starkville. While they are unlikely to get back into the SEC West race, the Bulldogs could help decide the division as a spoiler if they win out.