Vanderbilt, Mississippi State suffer baffling losses to Group of Five opponents

 While Vanderbilt was able to trim the deficit and eventually take the lead, the Panthers responded in kind with a go-ahead touchdown drive that left Vanderbilt with little time for a drive of their own. When the final whistle was blown, it was Georgia State walking out of Nashville with a 36-32 victory.

Four and a half hours away in Starkville, Miss., Mississippi State was in the midst of a blowout — but rather than the Bulldogs pulling away from the Rockets, it was Toledo which took control, holding a 28-3 halftime lead on its way to a dominant 41-17 victory.

As both Vanderbilt and Mississippi State start SEC play next week, these losses could be the difference in making or missing a bowl game, as well as the future of head coaches Clark Lea and Jeff Lebby. 

Losing to a Group of Five opponent as a Power Four team is never a good look, but especially so as an SEC team in what is supposedly the best conference in the country. 

Vanderbilt will travel to Missouri next Saturday to open conference play, while Mississippi State will play host to the Florida Gators in their SEC opener.