Yesterday, Mississippi State furthered it's #1 goal of improving WVU's strength of schedule by beating #22 Alabama. Stewart Mandel of SI.com took notice:

With a 17-12 win over Alabama in which its defense absolutely stifled Crimson Tide QB John Parker Wilson, Mississippi State (6-4) has now beaten three ranked SEC foes: Auburn, Kentucky and Alabama. These same Bulldogs, however, got crushed just a few weeks ago by West Virginia. Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the SEC, but a tremendous achievement for Sylvester Croom’s team, which, after enduring three years as the conference whipping boy, is likely headed to a bowl game.

Somehow, someway, this fact will inevitably be lost by others in the mainstream media. Either way, the Mississippi State win will continue to help us immensely in the computer polls. In a weekend where Ohio State relinquished its #1 position, anything helps.