India, Oct. 3 -- Mississippi State suffered an early blow against Alabama on Saturday as starting running back Fluff Bothwell was forced out of the matchup with a lower-body injury.

Bothwell touched the ball just once during the Bulldogs' opening possession, gaining one yard before leaving the game. He was later spotted on the sideline wearing shorts and a walking boot on his left foot.

ESPN's Katie George provided an update during the ABC broadcast, saying the issue was related to an injury Bothwell had previously been dealing with.

"He's now on the sideline in shorts and wearing a walking boot on his left foot," George reported on the ABC broadcast. "I'm told it was a prior injury. They wanted to see how it felt. Clearly not good eno...