TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Saturday’s loss to 10th-ranked Alabama ended one of the most trying weeks for Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen and his Bulldogs.

Instead of enjoying a bye week with a 7-2 record, a national ranking and a good bowl game on the horizon, Mississippi State was embroiled in tragedy and controversy.

Mullen and his team had to deal with the sudden death of sophomore defensive lineman Nick Bell from cancer. Scandal swirled with allegations made by two former Mississippi State players, John Bond and Ken Rogers, against Auburn quarterback Cam Newton about a pay-to-play scandal.

On top of all this was a game against defending national champion Alabama on its home turf here before 101,000 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama did offer the Bulldogs some sympathy, granting a moment of silence in honor of Bell before kickoff.

In his postgame observations, Mullen acknowledged the difficult week, but said it was not the reason his

Bulldogs (7-3, 3-3 Conference) suffered the 30-10 loss to Alabama (8-2, 5-2). The Newton fiasco had no bearing on his team but Bell’s death certainly did.

“It’s been a trying week,” Mullen said. “We have an opportunity to learn from this. When we get in these big games, we have to be able to play faster and respond.”

Mullen was disappointed his team did not respond when it had the chance. The Bulldogs were down only 6-3 in the second quarter when Alabama was pinned deep in its own territory at the 15. Two plays to reigning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram resulted in a loss of 5 yards and an incompletion by Greg McElroy forced a punt, which State fielded at the Crimson Tide 46.

Instead of a quick drive to take the lead or to tie, the Bulldogs self-destructed. They were called for a holding penalty and had to go 20 yards for a first down. A Chris Relf pass to Brandon Heavens went for 14 yards and the Bulldogs were forced to punt.

Five plays later, McElroy hit Marquis Maze for a 45-yard touchdown pass to extend Alabama’s lead to 13-3.

On their next drive, the Bulldogs were hit with back-to-back illegal motion penalties. That resulted in another punt, which Maze returned 81 yards for a score, but it was called back because of an illegal block.

The Bulldogs were spared for just one play as McElroy tossed a quick screen to Ingram, who burst down the sideline for a 78-yard touchdown. It was the longest play of Ingram’s career at Alabama.

Up until that play, Ingram had just 14 yards total on 11 touches.

“We stacked them up pretty well and did a good job stopping the run,” Mississippi State linebacker Chris White said. “Then they got something going on the perimeter because we didn’t tackle.”

Mullen said both sides of the ball were to blame for the Crimson Tide breaking out to a 20-3 lead at the half.

“When they get a big play, our thing has been to respond, but we didn’t do that tonight,” Mullen said. “We had so many silly penalties. The last time that happened was in Baton Rouge and that was the last time we got beat. To give up a 45 and then a 78-yard touchdown on back-to-back plays is not what our defense is about. We were just sloppy on both sides of the ball. You can’t miss tackle after tackle and make silly penalties and beat someone like an Alabama.”

Any hope of a comeback in the second half were dashed on Julio Jones’ 56-yard jet sweep run for a touchdown. The play was the longest run of the game for the Crimson Tide. Jones finished as the Tide’s leading rusher with 56 yards to Ingram’s 53. Trent Richardson dressed, but did not play.

State had 149 yards on the ground, led by Vick Ballard’s 80.

But State had just 150 yards passing between quarterbacks Chris Relf and Tyler Russell. Mullen said the Bulldogs did not do enough up front.

“Worst game for our offensive line in a long time and that’s an area that has to be our strong point,” Mullen said.