Mississippi State Coach Jeff Lebby Reflects on Critical Fourth-Quarter Decisions in Overtime Loss to Texas

Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby deeply regrets a conservative decision during the final minutes of their recent game against Texas, where he chose not to call a timeout with the game tied and the ball near field-goal range. This decision preceded a critical fumble by quarterback Blake Shapen, resulting in a loss that extended Mississippi State's SEC losing streak to 16 games. Lebby acknowledges that he usually favors aggressive playcalling but wanted to avoid giving the ball back to Texas, a choice he now views as a key mistake. Despite the painful loss and criticism from fans frustrated by repeated late-game failures, Lebby remains focused on leading his team with emotion and energy, preparing them for upcoming games like their matchup against Arkansas. The Bulldogs' recent pattern of blown leads and critical errors has left fans disillusioned, demanding better situational execution from the team. Lebby has committed to learning from these moments and improving his decision-making moving forward.