What Southern Miss Had to Say About Mississippi State After Saturday’s Game
Mississippi State kicked off the season with a 34-17 victory over Southern Miss, improving their all-time record in the rivalry to 19-12-1 and extending their winning streak over the Golden Eagles to seven straight games.
After the game, Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff and several players shared their thoughts on the Bulldogs. Here’s a breakdown of their comments:
Head Coach Charles Huff on Mississippi State’s Performance:
In his opening remarks, Huff praised Mississippi State for their effort, saying the Bulldogs executed well. He noted that Southern Miss held their own in the first half but ultimately couldn’t keep pace as MSU began to wear them down after halftime. He pointed to missed chances to shift momentum that allowed State to stay in control.
Huff on Mississippi State’s Running Game:
Huff highlighted the physicality of Mississippi State’s offensive and defensive lines, joking that with the money invested in those units, it makes sense they dominated in the second half. He admitted that while Southern Miss has a solid build, they’re not quite on the same level as SEC teams. He said the goal was to force MSU to pass more, but they weren’t able to control the game early enough to make that happen.
Huff on MSU’s Cornerbacks:
He acknowledged the talent in the secondary, but noted that defending five-yard routes isn’t difficult — the real challenge is preventing deep passes when trailing. Huff admitted that the game situation forced Southern Miss into obvious passing situations, which made life easier for the Bulldogs’ defense. He also complimented the athleticism and length of State’s corners, saying they performed well.
QB Braylon Braxton on Mississippi State’s Secondary:
Braxton was especially impressed with the Bulldogs’ corners, pointing out the size and reach of players like Kelley Jones (No. 1). He noted that MSU’s defensive backs didn’t need to do much — their size alone made it tough to complete anything but perfect passes. He said this might be the most physically gifted secondary they face all season.
Braxton on the Overall Defense:
He credited defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler for smart schemes that forced him off his first and second reads and into tougher decisions. He often had to check down or scramble due to tight coverage and pressure.
Braxton on Second-Half Adjustments:
Braxton said Mississippi State’s defense adjusted well, using their intelligence and athleticism to adapt. He noted that they didn’t just sit back — they started dropping more defenders into coverage and challenging Southern Miss to beat them in other ways.
LB Michael Montgomery on Mississippi State’s Rushing Attack:
Montgomery said the real issue wasn’t what State was doing — it was about execution on their end. He explained that Southern Miss made technical mistakes in fitting the run and handling the interior gaps, especially when facing pulling linemen. Though they managed to contain the outside run game, they struggled with the details up the middle.
Montgomery on Third-Quarter Breakdown:
Montgomery reiterated that Mississippi State didn’t do anything new in the second half — they simply kept executing the same plays and exposed Southern Miss’s breakdowns in fundamentals. He emphasized that the Bulldogs tested their discipline and technique rather than surprising them with scheme changes.
No Comment! Be the first one.