Would going 5-7 or 6-6 be worse than going 4-8 or worse?

Anon201138

Freshman
Mar 11, 2026
110
72
28
Going 6-6 in this 9 game conference schedule, I think we would keep Lebby. I wouldnt want to keep him, but I wouldn’t be THAT against it if we did. But I’d still think we would just be in purgatory long term.

What I’m worried about is going 5-7. This would still likely mean we had three wins against some combination of Minnesota, Vandy, South Carolina, Auburn, Missouri. I mean our administration might look at that and say okay we beat the two cupcakes, lost to 5 top 15-20 teams, and then went 3-2 in those five toss ups. I honestly think they would consider keeping him with that as well.

I’d rather go 2-10 or 3-9 or 4-8 than 5-7.
 

Maroon Eagle

All-American
May 24, 2006
18,140
7,956
102
That right there is Mississippi State Logic™ **

Here’s the easy answer:

Just Win. After all, we’re gonna lose soon anyway, so get the victories when we can.
 

Anon201138

Freshman
Mar 11, 2026
110
72
28
I've got good news for you.
I don’t think we’re gonna go 2-10 or 3-9. I expect 4-8 or 5-7.

But this is what is so tough about the 9 game SEC + @ Minnesota schedule. If we really did beat Minnesota, Vandy, and Auburn, that would in fact be 5-7 but still “an improvement” from last year. Heck even if we went 4-8 with wins over Minnesota and Auburn it would at least be not regressing from last year. But just optics wise I don’t think you can keep the guy.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
57,927
27,798
113
I don’t think we’re gonna go 2-10 or 3-9. I expect 4-8 or 5-7.

But this is what is so tough about the 9 game SEC + @ Minnesota schedule. If we really did beat Minnesota, Vandy, and Auburn, that would in fact be 5-7 but still “an improvement” from last year. Heck even if we went 4-8 with wins over Minnesota and Auburn it would at least be not regressing from last year. But just optics wise I don’t think you can keep the guy.
This is what I expect. And one of those will bring a coaching change. I'm afraid the other one won't. So yeah, in order I hope we win more than 5, and if we can't win more than 5 win less than 5, but not exactly 5.
 

maroontide06

Senior
Dec 14, 2023
839
830
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In all reality, Selmon has to know he has to move on from Lebby. It's just a matter of when, not if. If he's a good AD, he will prepare for that now and not when it actually happens.
 

Perd Hapley

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
6,021
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Anything less than 8-4, and he should be fired. No questions asked. 8-4 is the minimum requirement.

7-5 is just 2 games better than 5-7, the record that his predecessor had or would have had - 3 years ago - when he was not even allowed to finish Year 1 due to poor performance. It’s also a 4-5 SEC record in all likelihood. His 3-year body of work would be as follows: 14-23 overall, 6-19 SEC, 7-22 against the Power 4. Its obvious what you have at that point, none of those 3 is near good enough.

6-6 or worse, all of the above is even more awful.

8-4 or GTFO.
 
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Anon201138

Freshman
Mar 11, 2026
110
72
28
Anything less than 8-4, and he should be fired. No questions asked. 8-4 is the minimum requirement.

7-5 is just 2 games better than 5-7, the record that his predecessor had or would have had - 3 years ago - when he was not even allowed to finish Year 1 due to poor performance. It’s also a 4-5 SEC record in all likelihood. His 3-year body of work would be as follows: 14-23 overall, 6-19 SEC, 7-22 against the Power 5. Its obvious what you have at that point, none of those 3 is near good enough.

6-6 or worse, all of the above is even more awful.

8-4 or GTFO.
Man 8-4 is the absolute best case scenario. That would mean beating the 2 cupcakes then beating ALL of Minnesota, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Auburn. And THEN upsetting a playoff caliber team and/or winning the Egg Bowl. I would say there is a what maybe 2-3% chance of this happening?
 

mcdawg22

Heisman
Sep 18, 2004
13,313
11,154
113
Going 6-6 in this 9 game conference schedule, I think we would keep Lebby. I wouldnt want to keep him, but I wouldn’t be THAT against it if we did. But I’d still think we would just be in purgatory long term.

What I’m worried about is going 5-7. This would still likely mean we had three wins against some combination of Minnesota, Vandy, South Carolina, Auburn, Missouri. I mean our administration might look at that and say okay we beat the two cupcakes, lost to 5 top 15-20 teams, and then went 3-2 in those five toss ups. I honestly think they would consider keeping him with that as well.

I’d rather go 2-10 or 3-9 or 4-8 than 5-7.
Stupidity Are You Stupid GIF
 
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Perd Hapley

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
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Man 8-4 is the absolute best case scenario. That would mean beating the 2 cupcakes then beating ALL of Minnesota, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Auburn. And THEN upsetting a playoff caliber team and/or winning the Egg Bowl. I would say there is a what maybe 2-3% chance of this happening?
I would say its 0% chance. The same chance of Lebby still being employed after the first week of November.
 

Willow Grove Dawg

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2016
7,726
4,957
113
I don't think there is a scenario in which Selmon can survive if he retains Lebby after a 5-7 season this fall. The buyout should be minimal 3 years into his contract.

I think you have to retain Lebby if we go 6-6 especially given it is the first season of the 9 game SEC schedule plus the Power 4 game. 6-6 in 2026 just will not be the same as 6-6 any previous season.

This could be a challenging year for Selmon. Lebby is on the hottest of hot seats & Jans' seat is at least lukewarm. I don't think anyone wants to replace their football & men's basketball coaches in the same school year.
 

Anon201138

Freshman
Mar 11, 2026
110
72
28
I don't think there is a scenario in which Selmon can survive if he retains Lebby after a 5-7 season this fall. The buyout should be minimal 3 years into his contract.

I think you have to retain Lebby if we go 6-6 especially given it is the first season of the 9 game SEC schedule plus the Power 4 game. 6-6 in 2026 just will not be the same as 6-6 any previous season.

This could be a challenging year for Selmon. Lebby is on the hottest of hot seats & Jans' seat is at least lukewarm. I don't think anyone wants to replace their football & men's basketball coaches in the same school year.
I just don’t want to get stuck in purgatory. If we retain him at 6-6, what’s the expectation for next year? 7-8 wins? Playoffs?

I think if we retained him at 6-6 the next year (2027) we’d be hoping for 7-8 wins. You still couldn’t expect to be in playoff contention coming off a 6 win year.
 
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L4Dawg

All-American
Oct 27, 2016
10,709
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Going 6-6 in this 9 game conference schedule, I think we would keep Lebby. I wouldnt want to keep him, but I wouldn’t be THAT against it if we did. But I’d still think we would just be in purgatory long term.

What I’m worried about is going 5-7. This would still likely mean we had three wins against some combination of Minnesota, Vandy, South Carolina, Auburn, Missouri. I mean our administration might look at that and say okay we beat the two cupcakes, lost to 5 top 15-20 teams, and then went 3-2 in those five toss ups. I honestly think they would consider keeping him with that as well.

I’d rather go 2-10 or 3-9 or 4-8 than 5-7.
No
 

The Peeper

Heisman
Feb 26, 2008
15,794
11,123
113
Depends on how we look in said games

It shouldn't come down to "how we look" in games anymore, moral victories 3 years into his tenure when you have transfers and NIL is BullS-hit.

TN Tech, ULM, and Minnesota non-conference wins would be 3. To go 5-7 that would mean he only got 2 more wins in conference which in 3 years is only 3 total Conference games. He has to go if that's as good as it gets in 3 seasons.
 
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Anon201138

Freshman
Mar 11, 2026
110
72
28
It shouldn't come down to "how we look" in games anymore, moral victories 3 years into his tenure when you have transfers and NIL is BullS-hit.

TN Tech, ULM, and Minnesota non-conference wins would be 3. To go 5-7 that would mean he only got 2 more wins in conference which in 3 years is only 3 total Conference games. He has to go if that's as good as it gets in 3 seasons.
If he was not a “friend hire” by Selmon, if he and Selmon were not close, I think it would be done.

But man if we knock off Minnesota on the road, split 2-2 against Auburn/Vandy/Missouri/SC, I think Selmon would have a much harder time firing him at 5-7 than we all think.
 

patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
57,927
27,798
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If he was not a “friend hire” by Selmon, if he and Selmon were not close, I think it would be done.

But man if we knock off Minnesota on the road, split 2-2 against Auburn/Vandy/Missouri/SC, I think Selmon would have a much harder time firing him at 5-7 than we all think.
Yeah. I don’t see him getting fired with 5 wins. Thats 3 wins we weren't supposed to win. If your going to fire him after 5 wins you should have done it 6 months ago.