There was always the thought a potential upset could be on the horizon as the Mississippi State Bulldogs traveled to Baton Rouge to take on the defending national champion LSU Tigers, and Mike Leach’s team certainly delivered on Saturday afternoon.
Quarterback K.J. Costello hung over 600 passing yards on an LSU team that’s been so often commended for its defensive dominance in recent history, causing some embarrassment for “DBU.”
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach described his team as “explosive but inconsistent,” and it will be interesting to see just how much of a force to be reckoned with they prove to be as the season rolls on.
Here’s a look at three Bulldogs who particularly stood out this weekend:
1. QB K.J. Costello.
The Bulldogs could hardly have asked for more from Costello in his first game as a Mississippi State starter as he guided not only the Bulldogs to their first win of the season, but himself to breaking the record for most passing yards in a single SEC performance.
He finished out by completing 36-of-60 passing attempts for 623 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. His overall rating stood at 168.1 by the time the clock hit zero in the fourth quarter.
There were some decision-making mistakes Costello made throughout the game and turnovers that should have been avoided, but it’s looking like Leach got exactly what he wanted with this one.
Expect Costello to emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in college football as the season goes on.