Rapid reaction: Mississippi State crushes N.C. State in Belk Bowl

Here are some quick thoughts on Mississippi State’s 51-28 victory over N.C. State on Wednesday in the Belk Bowl.

What it means: Mississippi State wins its ninth game of the season and finishes the Dak Prescott era with back-to-back, nine-or-more win seasons, which had never been done in Starkville. Coach Dan Mullen improves his bowl record to 4-2, and the SEC is 3-0 to begin the bowl season.

What I liked:

• Mississippi State’s defensive pressure on N.C. State senior QB Jacoby Brissett permitted the Bulldogs to get out to a quick lead. On the first play from scrimmage, pressure forced Brissett into a poor throw that DB Gerri Green intercepted. Mississippi State scored its first touchdown five plays later. The Bulldogs sacked Brissett five times.
• The Bulldogs picked off another Brissett pass in the first quarter. Brissett came into the game with just four interceptions this season. Mississippi State quickly turned the second pick into another score and led by 14 at the end of the first quarter.
• Senior QB Dak Prescott was sensational. He averaged 11.8 yards per attempt in the first half. Prescott finished the game 25-of-42 for 380 yards, four TDs with one interception. He also had 47 rushing yards.
• His two best targets, juniors WR Fred Ross and De’Runnya Wilson, had huge days. With seven catches and 74 yards, Ross became the second receiver in Mississippi State history with a 1,000-yard receiving season. He also scored a rushing and receiving TD. Wilson caught five passes for 96 yards and a TD. He nearly had a second score, but a replay review marked him down inside the N.C. State 1-yard line.

What I didn’t like:

• Mississippi State played well on defense, but yielded some huge plays. N.C. State recorded three plays of 40 yards or more. That kept the Wolfpack in the game until the fourth quarter.
• The first big play the Bulldogs allowed nearly turned the tide of the game. Brissett found TE Pharaoh McKever open down the sideline for a 82-yard TD pass to put the Wolfpack on the board.
• Prescott and the Bulldogs offense was sluggish in the third quarter. On the first two drives of the second half, Mississippi State gained just 20 yards on nine plays. But a long drive to end the third quarter extended the lead back to 17. In the fourth, the game became a blowout.

Who’s the man: Prescott has been the man for Mississippi State all season long, and in his final college football game, nothing changed. He finished the game with 427 total yards and 9 yards per pass. Prescott leaves Mississippi State as the greatest player in program history.

Key play: Early in the third quarter, Ross muffed a punt that N.C. State recovered inside the Mississippi State 5, but the officials threw a flag for fair-catch interference. It was definitely the correct call, but it nullified the big, momentum-swinging play N.C. State was looking for in the second half. A TD would have pulled the Wolfpack within 10 points.

Final thoughts: It’s been said before, but Mississippi State is clearly on the right path with Mullen. Although the Bulldogs lose Prescott, the talent developing at other positions should assure fans in Starkville that there won’t be a dramatic drop-off next season.

For the SEC, this victory improves the conference to 3-0 this bowl season, and the games haven’t been close. The average margin of victory is 24.3.

Dave Holcomb

Dave covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.