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STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State football fans probably had their ideas and expectations for the Bulldogs this season. Some of those have come true, others haven’t.

For instance, we knew Jeff Lebby would run a fast-paced, no-huddle offense. That has come true. But the Bulldogs were also expected to beat Toledo. As we know, that didn’t happen.

But how do our preseason predictions line up with how the Bulldogs’ season has gone so far? Do they tell the story of their season to this point? Maybe.

Here are 5 stats tell the story of Mississippi State’s season so far

That’s Mississippi State’s run defense rank in FBS out of 133 schools. The Bulldogs are giving up an average of 213.7 yards per game. That number is inflated slightly from the 364 rushing yards Arizona State had, but the Bulldogs weren’t stifling Eastern Kentucky or Toledo on the ground either.

174.9

That’s quarterback Blake Shapen’s efficiency rating through three games. The former Baylor quarterback has been on the brightest spots for Mississippi State. He’s thrown just one interception and has completed 70 percent of his passes for 834 yards and seven touchdowns. Shapen was a big reason why Mississippi State only lost to Arizona State by seven points instead of 20-plus.

That’s Mississippi State’s run defense rank in FBS out of 133 schools. The Bulldogs are giving up an average of 213.7 yards per game. That number is inflated slightly from the 364 rushing yards Arizona State had, but the Bulldogs weren’t stifling Eastern Kentucky or Toledo on the ground either.

174.9

That’s quarterback Blake Shapen’s efficiency rating through three games. The former Baylor quarterback has been on the brightest spots for Mississippi State. He’s thrown just one interception and has completed 70 percent of his passes for 834 yards and seven touchdowns. Shapen was a big reason why Mississippi State only lost to Arizona State by seven points instead of 20-plus.

That’s Mississippi State’s run defense rank in FBS out of 133 schools. The Bulldogs are giving up an average of 213.7 yards per game. That number is inflated slightly from the 364 rushing yards Arizona State had, but the Bulldogs weren’t stifling Eastern Kentucky or Toledo on the ground either.

174.9

That’s quarterback Blake Shapen’s efficiency rating through three games. The former Baylor quarterback has been on the brightest spots for Mississippi State. He’s thrown just one interception and has completed 70 percent of his passes for 834 yards and seven touchdowns. Shapen was a big reason why Mississippi State only lost to Arizona State by seven points instead of 20-plus.

That’s Mississippi State’s run defense rank in FBS out of 133 schools. The Bulldogs are giving up an average of 213.7 yards per game. That number is inflated slightly from the 364 rushing yards Arizona State had, but the Bulldogs weren’t stifling Eastern Kentucky or Toledo on the ground either.

174.9

That’s quarterback Blake Shapen’s efficiency rating through three games. The former Baylor quarterback has been on the brightest spots for Mississippi State. He’s thrown just one interception and has completed 70 percent of his passes for 834 yards and seven touchdowns. Shapen was a big reason why Mississippi State only lost to Arizona State by seven points instead of 20-plus.

That’s the number of turnovers Mississippi State’s defense has forced. The Bulldogs have just one forced fumble recovered and one interception. The interception came in the opener against EKU and Elijah Cannon returned 51 yards for a touchdown.

The fumble recovery, technically, wasn’t recovered. Rather, Stone Blanton punched the ball from a Toledo player’s arms just before they crossed the goal line. The ball flew into the end zone and gave the Bulldogs possession.

394

That’s the number of all-purpose yards Kevin Coleman Jr. has gained so far this season. The former Louisville player has been electrifying for Mississippi State so far. He’s gained 268 receiving yards and 117 punt return yards. He burst onto the scene against EKU with several big punt returns and had an 80-yard touchdown reception against Arizona State.