With the release of the final On3 recruiting rankings for the 2025 class, the Mississippi State Bulldogs’ first full recruiting cycle under head coach Jeff Lebby is complete. The Bulldogs secured three players on the list, helping boost their national recruiting ranking to No. 23. Yet, that won’t improve Lebby’s performance during his debut season.
Mississippi State’s 2025 Recruiting Class Showcases Jeff Lebby’s Challenges Ahead
The class earned an 89.193 score, the highest for the Bulldogs in a decade. Despite these recruiting wins, the Bulldogs struggled on the field last season. They finished with a 2-10 record, failed to win a single conference game for the first time since 2002, and ultimately earned Lebby a “D” grade from CSN’s Oli Hodgkinson.
“However, Mississippi State also lost three more games this year as Lebby struggled to establish a starting quarterback and went winless in the conference for the first time since 2002. The loss to the Toledo Rockets was a real low point for the program, with the usual MAC contender far from their best in 2024. There is a lot of work to do if Lebby is to survive Year 2.”
The team’s inability to settle on a starting quarterback contributed to several offensive inconsistencies. Meanwhile, an 0-8 SEC record highlighted struggles against top-tier competition.
A particularly disappointing moment came with a 41-17 beatdown to the Toledo Rockets of the MAC in front of a home crowd. Significant improvements will be necessary for Lebby to retain his role beyond his second season.
Lebby was brought in to revamp Mississippi State’s offense after Zack Arnett’s unsuccessful tenure. While the team improved in offensive scoring, jumping 21 spots from the 2023 season and increasing its points-per-game average by four, the overall results were far from expectations.
Defensive vulnerabilities further compounded the team’s issues, creating an uphill battle for the coaching staff moving forward.
One of the first major moves in response to these struggles was the hiring of former head coach Mike MacIntyre as a defensive analyst, as reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
MacIntyre brings experience from head coaching roles at San Jose State, Colorado, and FIU. He also served as a defensive coordinator at Memphis, Ole Miss, and Duke, providing Mississippi State with a well-rounded defensive mind to aid in player development.
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While his tenure at FIU ended with a 12-24 record before he was dismissed with three years left on his contract, MacIntyre’s 2024 FIU defense ranked well among Conference USA teams in total defense and pass defense.
His role at Mississippi State will be his first non-head coaching position since 2021, when he was Memphis’ defensive coordinator.
Lebby’s Areas of Improvement After a Tough 2024 Season
Lebby’s first season as head coach of the Bulldogs was far from smooth. Mississippi State finished with only two wins, defeating Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 31 and UMass on Nov. 2, while losing all eight SEC matchups. The team was regularly outmatched, particularly against ranked opponents such as Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia.
While the offense did make some strides, averaging 25.8 points per game, the defense was among the worst in the SEC, conceding an average of 34.1 points.
Mississippi State’s run defense was a major weakness, allowing 2,603 rushing yards and an alarming 24 touchdowns. Against elite competition, the Bulldogs often had no defensive answers, putting further pressure on an already inconsistent offense.
As Mississippi State looks toward the future, Lebby faces immense pressure to turn things around in his second year. While the strong 2025 recruiting class provides optimism, it must translate into on-field success.
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