Back to the Illinois Fighting Illini Newsfeed

Top 50 College Football Teams of 2016: No. 41, Mississippi State

Related Topics: Dan Mullen, Dak Prescott

Coach: Dan Mullen

2015 record: 9-4

Projected 2016 record: 8-4

Circle the date: Nov. 12 at Alabama

Bowl trip: Independence

Why No. 41: Mullen welcomes back 13 starters from a bowl winner. Unfortunately, one of them isn’t quarterback Dak Prescott. That will hurt the Bulldogs. Maybe a lot. Thrower/runner Nick Fitzgerald is Prescott’s likely replacement. He will hand off to a solid set of running backs and throw to one of the SEC’s top receivers, Fred Ross. Three starters return on the offensive line.