By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Mississippi State upsets 4th ranked Texas A&M 35-28 in Starkville.

1. Mississippi State’s 35-28 upset victory significantly shakes up the national polls as Texas A&M was ranked fourth in the first College Football Playoff poll of 2016. For the Bulldogs, the triumph snaps a three-game FBS losing streak and moves the team to 4-5 overall with three regular season contests remaining. This win gives Dan Mallen a signature one this fall.

2. Versatile quarterback Nick Fitzgerald just continues to make plays. He threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 182 yards and two more scores and now has 24 total touchdowns this fall. Fitzgerald had some highlight-reel plays, including a driving march into the endzone on Mississippi State’s last touchdown. The 6’5” signal caller set the tone for an attack that compiled nearly 600 yards of total offense on Saturday.

3. One of the day’s biggest differences came in the ground game. The Bulldogs limited the Aggies to less than half of their typical production, just 117 rushing yards, and ran for a season-high 367 yards themselves. Mississippi State did not allow a Texas A&M running back a carry of over nine yards. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald ran for 182 yards, while tailback Aeris Williams added 140 for the Bulldogs.

4. A statement was made by Mississippi State in the first half. Though Christian Kirk ended the second quarter with a long punt return for a touchdown, the Bulldogs scored touchdowns on four of their first six possessions and put the pressure on the Aggies to adjust and respond. An early 28-7 lead proved to be a major advantage both on the field and in the stands.

5. The loss is a pretty devastating one for Texas A&M, with the SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff now out of reach. There is obvious concern over starting quarterback Trevor Knight, who injured his right arm in the second quarter.