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A week after a near-fatal fist fight at LSU, Alabama quickly faced another fight for playoff survival.
And for a change, it was not the No. 1 team when Mississippi State came to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 15, 2014. The Bulldogs were unbeaten in nine games after cruising past UT-Martin the previous Saturday.
But instead of continuing the dream season, Mississippi State's run at the SEC and national titles took a major blow in Tuscaloosa. And in turn, Alabama remained in play for both crowns with a 25-20 win on a perfect fall afternoon.
In retrospect, Mississippi State players and coach Dan Mullen see what went wrong. New to the pedestal, there were a few mental mistakes in the approach to the game. A slow start ultimately created a hole it couldn't fill
"Losing by five right there at the end of the game," quarterback Dak Prescott said at SEC Media Days last week in Hoover. "Another minute or another drive on offense and I think we win that game."