Analysts Brian Hadad and Carlo Barone said Wednesday that a 4-0 start could put Mississippi State into the AP Top 25 if the Bulldogs replicate the feat in 2026.
Hadad and Barone noted that Mississippi State began last season 4-0 and still was unranked in the AP poll, underscoring how early-season results do not always translate into rankings.
In their preseason breakdown of the AP Top 25, the analysts asked what would happen if Mississippi State gets through its first four games unscathed, suggesting that an unbeaten opening could shift national perception.
Hadad and Barone framed the scenario as part of broader preseason debate about the Top 25, saying early nonconference results can influence voters and reshape the rankings landscape.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
