40 in 40: Why the most important Bulldog in 2025 is Jeff Lebby

This is the first in a series counting down the 40 most important coaches, players, staff, administrators, etc. to the Mississippi State football program’s success (or lack thereof) in 2025.

Football is a true team sport. It’s not like baseball that is a team sport played by a bunch of individuals.

In football, all 11 players on the field for a team have to be in sync and move in unison. The offensive line has to move together to open up running lanes, wide receivers run routes complementary to one another to get open. Defensive lines and linebackers have to work together to fill every gap.

When it works, it’s a thing of beauty.

That’s why it’s hard to point towards any one person and say they’re the most important person to the team. Hard, but not impossible, especially for college football teams. And it’s not the quarterback.

For most teams, including Mississippi State, the most important individual is the head coach. Every major, impactful decision is made by the head coach and they have the greatest impact on a program.

That’s why to start this series, we’re leading off with the most important person for the Bulldogs, head coach Jeff Lebby. The following stories won’t be in any particular order.

Who is Jeff Lebby?

Lebby is entering his second season as a head coach at any level. Prior to last season’s 2-10 debut campaign at Mississippi State, Lebby was one of the nation’s best offensive coordinators. He spent two seasons at Ole Miss and Oklahoma where he engineered fast-paced, high-scoring offenses. He was hired to replace Zach Arnett after the 2023 season.

Why Lebby is important in 2025?

Last season was bad. But it’s not like Lebby suddenly lost whatever touch he had that landed him in Starkville. He’s still a great offensive mind, but the injuries and talent were too much for anyone to overcome.