Dak Prescott leads the No. 1-ranked team in America. (Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports)
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State received its first No. 1 ranking in school history and after a bye week, the Bulldogs face another first — defending that ranking.
Mississippi State is coming off three straight wins over top 10 opponents and enjoyed a bye week last week, but coach Dan Mullen reminded his team there is no time to rest.
“We’re going into a game with a target on our back,” Mullen said. “I think Kentucky is one of the hottest teams in the country right now.”
The Bulldogs (6-0, 3-0) must gear up for a road trek to Kentucky on Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET, CBS), and the hits will just keep coming.
“This is the biggest game we’ve played so far this season,” said Mullen. “I said our last game against Auburn was the biggest game played in Mississippi. I think this one is bigger now. Now we’re a team that has a target on our backs for the first time. Our guys better know how to handle that and have that unbelievable focus on how big a game this really is.”
Mullen is 5-0 against the Wildcats during his tenure at State but three of those games have been decided by one score.
The Bulldogs held off UK 28-22 last season in Starkville. The Wildcats drove down to the MSU 29-yard line before turning the ball over on downs in the game’s final minute.
“It’s going to be a very challenging game,” Mullen said. “Our game against them last year came right down to the last play.”
The bye week came at a good time for the Bulldogs. Mullen said the team should be almost fully healthy at Kentucky. That includes senior wide receiver Jameon Lewis, who led the team in receiving last season, had 15 catches for 223 yards before missing the last two games.
Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said the dual-threat of Dak Prescott at quarterback is a chief concern.
“He’s as talented of a guy as there is in the country. He can run it, he can throw it. He’s making great decisions and their offense puts stress on you,” Stoops said.
Kentucky saw its three-game winning streak come to an end over the weekend at LSU, 41-3. The Wildcats only other loss this season also came on the road at Florida, 36-30 in triple overtime.
“They’re 5-2 and both of those losses are SEC road games, one of which went to triple overtime,” Mullen said. “When you look at the improvement they’ve made, they’re up there and can compete and beat anybody out there.”
UK is 3-11 all-time against No. 1 ranked opponents with its last upset coming over LSU in Lexington during the 2007 campaign.
