Running Out The Clock

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are in a weird spot. They have been to a bowl game for the past decade, consistently pump out NFL talent, are an attractive destination for recruits and for coaches, and are one of the more respected programs in college football. But they've never had an SEC title, haven't come close to the title game in the past decade, and have seem to have a reputation around the conference and even their own fanbase that they're an afterthought of a team. What do you do with a team who considers an 8 win season to be a failure but would consider a 9 win season to be a great success? Is it enough to be in a spot where the floor is high but the ceiling is low? That's Mississippi State these days, and they're weird to talk about.