Top dog

Fant wins Mississippi State QB race, will start vs. Oregon

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -- Quarterback Kevin Fant will start for Mississippi State in its opener against Oregon on Saturday.

Bulldogs coach Jackie Sherrill said Monday during a media teleconference that Fant had beaten out sophomore Kyle York, who entered the preseason No. 1 on the depth chart.

"He's performed a little better than Kyle," Sherrill said. "It worked itself out. Kevin has performed very well in camp."

Fant, a senior, missed the final two weeks of spring practice for personal reasons. In his absence, York, who started two games last season, moved up to the first team.

When preseason practice opened earlier this month, Sherrill said Fant would be given the opportunity to win the job back.

"When you take all the practices and all the outside drills and all the scrimmages, he's been more productive than Kyle," Sherrill said of Fant.

Fant started 10 games last season. He completed 52 percent of his passes for 1,918 yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He missed the opener at Oregon while serving an NCAA suspension.

York started the 36-13 loss to the Ducks. For the season, he threw for 693 yards, three touchdowns and 10 interceptions.