Jackson Free Press

College football is nearing the midway point of the season, and it seems like a good time to look at how the season has gone for Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Jackson State. Let's see how our state's teams stack up in terms of bowl hopes or SWAC championship hopes.

Southern Miss has no bowl hopes. I know the Golden Eagles are only 0-5, but after losing 24-23 to Florida International, the best USM can hope for is a win this season.

FIU lost to Louisville 72-0 before playing USM and had scored just 23 points all season before doubling its point total against the Golden Eagles. Southern Miss might have one last hope for a win this season in the final game against UAB.

But, the bright side: Even if Southern Miss goes winless this season, the team would still have to lose 10 more games to equal the Northwestern Wildcats' 34 straight losses from 1979-1982. USM would have to go winless for the next decade to get even close to the 80 straight lost games on Prairie View A&M's record book.

Mississippi State has slim bowl hopes after falling to 2-3 after a loss to LSU. The Bulldogs still have a lot of meat on their schedule.

Over the next two weeks, MSU plays Bowling Green and Kentucky. Both are winnable games and could get the Bulldogs to four wins. The team would need two more wins after that to reach a bowl game.

The final two weeks of the season look like the best hope for the Bulldogs to reach six wins. MSU finishes the season with Arkansas and Ole Miss after facing South Carolina, Texas A&M and Alabama. That leaves no margin for error for the Bulldogs, unless they can pull off a huge upset against those three top-15 ranked opponents. A trip to a fourth-straight bowl is in major jeopardy.

Ole Miss is looking at better bowl hopes than MSU. The Rebels don't leave the state for the rest of the season.

The Rebels have a week to get ready for Texas A&M. Then, the team will face LSU. It will be a long shot for Ole Miss to beat the Tigers, but the team's next few games are winnable. Ole Miss plays Idaho, Arkansas and Troy.

Ole Miss can get a couple wins by defeating Idaho and Troy. With a current 3-2 record in the season, beating Idaho and Troy certainly gets the Rebels to five wins, even if they lose to Arkansas.

Then, the team finishes the season against Missouri and Mississippi State. Assuming the Rebels don't pull off any upsets, that means they will have to figure out a way to win one of their final two games.

If the Rebels can get their act together, a bowl is more than possible.

Here in the capital city, Jackson State is in great position to play in the SWAC Championship Game. The Tigers are the only undefeated team in conference play.

JSU faces one-win Mississippi Valley State and winless Grambling State in its next two games. The Tigers then face a tough Prairie View A&M team, followed by Alabama A&M and Alcorn State.

Finishing undefeated in conference play is not impossible. JSU should have no problem inching closer to booking their ticket to Houston for the rest of the season.