Mississippi State Football Summer Series: Previewing South Carolina and Alabama

Mississippi State Football Summer Series: Previewing South Carolina and Alabama STARKVILLE —- The Mississippi State football summer series rolls on, previewing the Bulldogs’ Week 4 game against South Carolina and Week 5 tilt with Alabama. MSU’s first road game of the season comes against South Carolina, an opponent it hasn’t seen in almost a decade. A key storyline is how first-year head coach Zach Arnett’s squad reacts in its first true road game. On top of that, it comes against a team returning one of college football’s most experienced quarterbacks. Here is what to know about MSU’s Week 4 opponent. Game: Mississippi State at South Carolina When: Sept. 23 Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina Time/TV: Yet to be announced Series History: South Carolina leads the all-time series, 9-7. The Bulldogs, however, won the last meeting, 2016 in Starkville, beating the Gamecocks, 27-14. MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald threw for 178 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the game. Fred Ross caught and threw a touchdown pass, while Donald Gray and Jordan Thomas also tallied touchdown receptions. South Carolina’s 2022 season: After opening the season 1-2, South Carolina won seven of its last nine games to finish the regular season 9-3. Its wins came against Georgia State, Charlotte, South Carolina State, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Clemson. The Gamecocks then ended the season with a 45-38 loss to Notre Dame in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. South Carolina finished the 2022 season 73rd in college football for total offense, averaging 378.8 yards per game, and 89th in total defense, allowing 404.7 yards per game. Coaches: Head Coach, Shane Beamer (third season), Offensive Coordinator, Dowell Loggains (first season), Defensive Coordinator, Clayton White (third season). South Carolina players to know: Spencer Rattler, QB: Rattler decided to forgo the NFL Draft this offseason for one more year in Columbia, and returns as one of the conference’s best quarterbacks. In his first season with South Carolina, Rattler completed 66.2% of his passes in 2022, throwing for 3,026 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 46 yards and three touchdowns. Juju McDowell, RB: South Carolina will be looking for a new bellcow in its backfield after last year’s leading rusher, Marshawn Lloyd, transferred to Southern California this offseason. One breakout candidate for the Gamecocks at running back is Juju McDowell. McDowell rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns on 62 carries last season. He also added 205 receiving yards and a touchdown on 24 catches. Antwane Wells Jr, WR: Wells Jr. returns as South Carolina’s top receiver from 2022. Wells tallied 928 receiving yards and six touchdowns, both team-highs, on 68 catches. He earned First-Team All-SEC honors last season after spending the first two years of his career at James Madison. Nick Emmanwori, S: Emmanwori returns as South Carolina’s leading tackler from last season, after tallying 85 in 2022. Emmanwori, who was named a Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC last season, also added one tackle for loss and one pass deflection in his first college football season. — MSU’s home Week 5 matchup with Alabama promises most of the usual challenges of facing the Crimson Tide, who have been a thorn in MSU’s side for the last two decades, winning 15 consecutive games against the Bulldogs. This year, however may be as good as any chance for MSU to end the streak. Nick Saban is breaking in a new offensive coordinator and new quarterback, while MSU has one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football this season. Here is what to know about MSU’s Week 5 opponent. Game: Alabama at Mississippi State When: Sept. 30 Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville Time/TVL: Yet to be announced Series History: Alabama holds a dominant 86-18-3 advantage over MSU in the all-time series. The Crimson Tide have won the last 15 meetings, including last year’s 30-6 victory in Tuscaloosa. MSU running back Jo’quavious Marks scored the Bulldogs’ lone touchdown of the game, rushing for 53 yards on 13 carries. Alabama’s 2022 season: Alabama missed the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019 last season, finishing the regular season 10-2, with losses at Tennessee and LSU. The Crimson Tide finished the year with a 45-20 win over Kansas State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Alabama finished the 2022 season 11th in college football for total offense, averaging 477.1 yards per game, and 13th in total defense, allowing 318.2 yards per game. Coaches: Head Coach, Nick Saban (17th season), Offensive Coordinator, Tommy Rees (first season), Defensive Coordinator, Kevin Steele (fifth season). Alabama players to know: Ty Simpson, Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner, QB: All of the offseason talk surrounding Alabama has been centered on who will be its starting quarterback, replacing NFL Draft No. 1 pick Bryce Young. The three candidates, Simpson, Milroe and Buchner, don’t have tons of experience. Simpson completed four of his five passes last year for 35 yards. Milroe completed 31 passes last season for 297 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. He started one game last season, leading Alabama to a 24-20 win over Texas A&M, where he threw for 111 yards and three touchdowns. Saban also brought in Buchner, a Notre Dame transfer, from the portal. Buchner, who suffered a shoulder injury early in 2022, threw for 651 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions in three games for the Fighting Irish. A true dual-threat quarterback, Buchner also rushed for four touchdowns last season. Jase McClellan, RB: McClellan projects to slide into Alabama’s open starting running back role, after Jahmyr Gibbs was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. McLellan tied Gibbs for the team lead with seven rushing touchdowns, finishing with 655 yards on 112 carries. He also added 174 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 14 catches. Ja’Corey Brooks, WR: Brooks returns as one of Alabama’s top returning receivers from 2022. Last year, Brooks caught a team-high eight touchdowns, finishing with 674 receiving yards on 39 catches. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB: McKinstry earned First-Team All-America and All-SEC honors last season after a dominant year in Alabama’s secondary. Over 13 games, McKinstry tallied 35 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and 16 pass deflections