No. 4 Alabama Stifles Dak Prescott and No. 1 Mississippi State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Whenever Mississippi State needed a big play Saturday, whenever it needed a yard, Dak Prescott had the ball in his hands. He gripped it tighter, put his head down and barreled into the heart of the Alabama defense. He stood tall and kept throwing, before being engulfed in a sea of red jerseys.

He was not at his best, but he had spurred the Bulldogs to this point, where a late-season game against Alabama meant something, meant everything for them.

Mississippi State had hope, trailing by 25-13 with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter. But Prescott's 40th pass of the game was tipped at the line and intercepted at the Alabama 17 by Landon Collins. Prescott stood on the field, motionless, as Crimson Tide defenders celebrated around him.

Prescott threw a touchdown pass with 15 seconds remaining, but No. 4 Alabama held on, 25-20, to upend No. 1 Mississippi State. Alabama controls its destiny in the Southeastern Conference and seemingly in the inaugural College Football Playoff.

Every year, the SEC seems to stage a high-stakes game like this that shakes the college football landscape. It has become as regular as the end of daylight saving time. This game had especially deep implications for Mississippi State, which hoped to continue its undefeated season, the best in its 115-year history, against a program that claims 15 national titles.

Geographically, they were the two closest teams in the conference, separated by about 80 miles. It might as well have been 800 miles.

Alabama had won 76 of 98 times in the series. It had the statues of five coaches in front of its stadium.

And Mississippi State had, well, Dan Mullen.

Mullen, the coach of the Bulldogs, joked last week that Alabama had more five-star recruits on its bench than he had on his whole team. He arrived in 2008 with his spread offense, scoured the South for talent and unearthed two gems in Louisiana: Prescott, the dual-threat quarterback, and a bruising running back named Josh Robinson.

The two, combined with a stingy defense, sprang Mississippi State on this run. The Bulldogs beat Louisiana State in Baton Rouge. They beat Texas A&M. They beat Auburn. Prescott became a Heisman Trophy contender, a household name. Mississippi State rose to the No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history.

Still, Alabama awaited.

'In every article you read, everywhere you look, we are a big underdog going into this game,' Mullen told reporters last week. 'We've done that before. We know that role. We're going to be O.K. with that.'

Mississippi State had the nation's top-ranked offense, but Alabama countered with the top-ranked defense, one that has traditionally served as an N.F.L. feeder system.

Prescott and Robinson looked overmatched at first. Mississippi State gained just 25 yards in the first quarter. Its first three drives ended with a safety and two punts.

On the safety, Robinson took a handoff near his goal line, bumped into a teammate who was in motion and bounced outside. He saw one red shirt, then another, and another. Next thing he knew, he was on his back.

When Mississippi State finally crossed midfield, facing a third-and-long, Prescott tossed a weak pass over the middle that was easily intercepted.

With its first real scoring chance, Mississippi State had the ball inside the Alabama 1-yard line late in the first half. But the Bulldogs were called for a false start. Prescott then threw three consecutive incompletions, and they settled for a field goal.

Alabama and Coach Nick Saban faced a situation similar two years ago. The week after a physical game against L.S.U., a dual-threat quarterback carved up the Crimson Tide defense and vaulted himself to the top of the Heisman race.

That was Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M.

On Saturday, Prescott was not so successful, though he did rush for 82 yards on 22 carries.

The Crimson Tide smothered him, pressured him into making tough throws and played physically against his receivers. They intercepted him three times, including once in the end zone. Even the Alabama punter, J. K. Scott, did his part limiting Prescott, pinning Mississippi State inside its 20 on five of his seven punts.

Prescott, who was 27 for 48 passing for 290 yards, two touchdowns and the three interceptions, briefly managed to lead Mississippi State back into the game, throwing a touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter that cut Alabama's lead to 19-13.

But receiver Amari Cooper, Alabama's own Heisman candidate, had provided enough offense to create a cushion. He caught a 4-yard touchdown pass and then leapt between two defenders to haul in a 50-yard pass that set up another short touchdown.

Alabama responded to Prescott's first touchdown with a demoralizing 15-play, 76-yard touchdown drive of its own. Alabama quarterback Blake Sims picked up three crucial third downs: one on a pass to T. J. Yeldon and two on nifty scrambles.

The Iron Bowl against Auburn is two weeks away. The SEC championship game is after that. And Alabama is back in a familiar role: The season has crept into late November, and the Crimson Tide are in the thick of the race for yet another national title.

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