Jeff Lebby still has yet to win an SEC game as head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The latest loss, a 23-21 shortcoming against Florida, may very well sting most of all. Mississippi State and QB Blake Shapen had driven the field and, trailing by just 2, were already within field goal range with under 30 seconds remaining. Smooth sailing, right?
Wrong. Instead, Shapen threw the worst interception you’ll ever see, prompting some on social media to ask why the Bulldogs were throwing the football in the first place.
Lebby was asked about the final play after the game, and instead of admitting it probably wasn’t the safest option in that moment, Lebby doubled down. Here’s what he had to say:
Lebby on last play “We wanted to be right around the 20 yard line, we felt like that was one of those things where that is an incredibly safe field goal spot for us. So we had the ability there to go gain six yards.”
“I do, I love the call. I don’t like what the outcome was.”
— David H Murray (@DawgsBiteMag) October 19, 2025
Just a brutal result from Mississippi State in another game that seemed winnable. The Bulldogs are 4-3 on the season and 0-3 in SEC play.
It’s tough to spot a win for the Bulldogs in SEC play if they keep making backbreaking mistakes at the end of games like this. The BUlldogs still have to play Texas, Georgia, Mizzou and Ole Miss, and their only game against a non-ranked SEC squad is at Arkansas. The Razorbacks defense is struggling this season, but Bobby Petrino’s offense is still playing at a high level.
For now, Mississippi State’s focus is on Week 9 against Texas.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.