Dawghouse: A Mississippi State Podcast

Bulldog basketball tips it off Monday evening while football prepares for a trip to Tennessee. Fall ball wraps up for the Diamond Dogs but Mississippi State soccer is just now hitting post-season play.

Mississippi State hosts Homecoming weekend with UMass on Scott Field. Coach Jeff Lebby's team looks to end a seven-loss skid but injuries and availability are questions for this non-conference contest. The SEC soccer champions completed a perfect league season and will head to the conference tourney in Pensacola. But their real focus will be tuning up for the NCAA Tournament with hopes of hosting on campus. Coach Chris Jans' new-look basketball Bulldogs have three more practice days before tipping off the season in Humphrey Coliseum Monday evening.

Bulldog soccer is the latest Mississippi State sport to earn a SEC Championship. Coach James Armstrong's team now is playing to host a NCAA Regional on campus. After a serious step back Saturday, Coach Jeff Lebby and staff are figuring late-season fixes for football's issues on both sides of the ball. Outside noise is not catching coaching ears as their audience is a football team in fragile November state of mind. And a week from tonight Bulldog basketball tips off a promising year-three under Chris Jans.

Mississippi State's Sports Hall of Fame adds the Class of 2024 this Friday evening in a campus ceremony we will be attending. Among the honorees is the late Keffer McGee whose 1997 passing still reverberates in Bulldog memory. This year's Mississippi State squad hosts Arkansas with a 11:45am kickoff on Scott Field. The Bulldog offense has been improving at a fast pace despite top-tier opposition for three weeks, but the defense looks to be short-handed again against a dangerous Razorback team. And Bulldog basketball held its media day on campus with interviews from coaches and club.

Jeff Lebby's Monday press conference built upon the October theme of an improving Bulldog team which needs a win to show for it. Mississippi State finally faces a non-ranked opponent but Arkansas has solid showings on its resume this season as well. Bulldog basketball goes quiet after a week of press conferences and public practices with November 4 tipoff coming up fast.

It's time for a home stand at Mississippi State as a three-weekend series of games on Scott Field starts Saturday. Texas A&M is the next top-15 foe for the Dogs to face. State was able to show improvement against top-fives Texas and Georgia on the road. The challenge now it to continue proving progress before a friendly crowd. Bulldog basketball made a stop at SEC Media Day and Chris Jans is as openly upbeat as has ever been in his State tenure. His recruiting is getting attention too as a top post prospect's commitment had MSU briefly ranked third in the country.

Coach Jeff Lebby's Monday press conference emphasized the eagerness for Bulldogs to get back on the home field again. Mississippi State hosts Texas A&M for a third-straight matchup against a top-15 opponent. Quarterback Michael Van Buren is the SEC's co-Freshman of the Week for his work at Georgia. Lebby saw more progress from the team as a whole in another SEC loss but wants a happy locker room for a change. Bulldog basketball is in Birmingham for SEC Media Day on Tuesday (men) and Wednesday (women).

The Battle of SEC Bulldogs has Mississippi State a major under-Dog at Georgia. Jeff Lebby's team has had a free week to rest the bodies and minds before resuming this season. The open date also was used to bring freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren up to speed as the new starter. Bulldog basketball scrimmages this Saturday in a closed-Coliseum session with Western Kentucky. Coach Chris Jans will appear at SEC Media Day next Tuesday. The SEC has released all but one tipoff time for the conference schedule.

Mississippi State soccer is ranked #4 after knocking off former number one Arkansas with some key home matches still to play. Ladydog basketball holds media days for Sam Purcell's team as well as new assistant coach Victoria Vivians. Bulldog basketball meets with media next week at the SEC press-fest Tuesday. And after the first open date of this 2024 schedule Jeff Lebby's team begins an even tougher schedule stretch with a trip to Georgia.

The 2024 season pauses for Mississippi State's first open date. The Bulldogs had two practices and two workout sessions before taking a break. Their coaches get no rest until Saturday. Jeff Lebby and staff are out recruiting Thursday and Friday and making the junior college and high school rounds. Five real games are giving Lebby a clearer idea of what else is needed to round out the standard signing class, as well as who to pursue when the portal opens in December. Bulldog baseball is well into fall ball with full reporting on Genespage.com. And tomorrow is media day for Sam Purcell's Lady Bulldogs on campus. Renovations to Humphrey Coliseum should be finished before both men and women tip off in November.