In Dan Mullen’s second season, MSU took a giant step forward. The Bulldogs finished 9-4 – all four losses to ranked teams – including an impressive 52-14 blowout of Michigan in the Gator Bowl. The 52 points were the most MSU has scored in a bowl game and was the most Michigan had ever allowed in a postseason game. Mississippi State finished last season at No. 15 in the AP poll, the highest final ranking for the school in that poll since finishing 13th after the 1999 season.

Memphis appears to be going the other direction, as the Tigers finished 1-11 overall and were the only winless team in C-USA play at 0-8 in Coach Larry Porter’s first season. Memphis was in the bottom five in the country in points scored and points allowed. And Ryan Williams, who started 10 games at QB last season, left the team in March and transferred to Miami (Fla.). Offensive lineman Joel McCleod, wide receiver Jermaine McKenzie and cornerback Mo Seisay – all starters last season – also transferred.

These two schools opened last season against each other, with MSU winning 49-7. At the time3, that was the most points that the Bulldogs had scored since 2002. The Bulldogs passed for 372 yards and finished with 569 total yards, just 27 shy of the school record. RB Vick Ballard, who is back this year, had seven carries for 60 yards and two TDs. He would finish the 2010 season with a Mississippi State record with 20 total touchdowns, 19 of them rushing. That Memphis win would be the first game of four that MSU scored 45+ points in 2010.

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