Mississippi State came within about a fingertip of an embarrassing loss on Monday in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Mississippi State's Nelson Adams blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt by Miami (Ohio)'s Nick Dowd to preserve a 17-16 victory and avoid a loss to a team the Bulldogs had been favored to beat by over two touchdowns.
Of course, while Mississippi State won the game, it wasn't exactly a performance of which to be proud. The Bulldogs were outgained by nearly 100 yards by the RedHawks, and Mississippi State did not take its first lead in the game until early in the fourth quarter on a 36-yard field goal.
Dan Mullen was also saved from further scrutiny on a decision he made just minutes before the blocked field goal.
Facing a third-and-3, Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald ran an option play to the left. Fitzgerald did not pitch the ball when he probably should have and was tackled short of the first down line as a result, losing his helmet and tweaking his ankle along the way. Fitzgerald then hobbled off the field, and instead of sending his kicker out there to attempt a 39-yard field goal that would have given the Bulldogs a 20-16 lead with 3:30 to play, Mullen sent out backup quarterback Damian Williams to go for it on fourth down.
Williams' pass attempt fell incomplete, and the Bulldogs turned it over on downs. Had Mississippi State kicked the field goal, Miami would have needed a touchdown to win, not just a field goal.
As for Miami (Ohio), it was a rough finish to what was still a remarkable season as the RedHawks were the first team in history to start a season 0-6 and finish the year bowl eligible at 6-6. A win over an SEC program would have been the perfect cherry on top, but alas, it was not to be.
