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Toledo receiver Junior Vandeross III splits two Mississippi State defenders to score a touchdown during Saturday's game in Starkville. Toledo beat the Bulldogs 41-17. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State fans cheer on the Bulldogs during Saturday's game against Toledo at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason (4) throws a pass as Mississippi State De'Monte Russell (9) closes in. Gleason passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns as Toledo beat Mississippi State 41-17. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Members of Mississippi State's marching band display flags with the school's logo during a performance prior to Saturday's game against Toledo. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State fans watch Saturday's game between the Bulldogs and Toledo at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Toledo tight end Anthony Torres (88) is tackled by Mississippi State's Isaac Smith (2) during Saturday's game in Starkville. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi State's Trevion Williams (23) celebrates after making a tackle against Toledo. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

STARKVILLE — “Showtime” had a great opening scene in Starkville.

The second act has bombed so far.

Tucker Gleason passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns, and added another 40 yards rushing as Toledo blew out Mississippi State 41-17 Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

First-year head coach Jeff Lebby branded the Bulldogs’ new era “Showtime,” but it has failed to live up to that hype through three games.

Mississippi State (1-2) won its opener easily, but has been dominated in two games since then. It trailed Arizona State 30-3 last week before rallying to make the final score a more respectable 30-23, and was behind 28-3 at halftime of this one.

“It’s incredibly frustrating, but it’s like I just told the guys, we’re going to get it fixed. That’s going to happen,” Lebby said. “Our guys staying together, believing in each other, believing in the plan, and understanding what we have is today. What we have is the opportunity to fix it tomorrow and go have a great week before we start SEC play next Saturday.”

Gleason threw two short touchdown passes to Junior Vandeross III and Jerjuan Newton to put Toledo (3-0) ahead 14-0 early in the second quarter, and then Connor Walendzak scored on a 1-yard run and Willie Shaw a 10-yard run for the big halftime lead.

Gleason threw another TD pass to Newton, a 15-yarder, on the Rockets’ second series of the third quarter to make it 35-3.

Mississippi State’s six first-half possessions ended with four punts, an interception and a field goal. The four punts all came after three-and-outs, and those possessions netted a total of minus-7 yards.

“Tonight it was the negative plays. Being behind the chains, having issues on first and second down, putting us in really bad third-down situations,” Lebby said. “We have to start faster and that’s going to be a huge point of emphasis as we get into it this week. We did not come out the way we needed to play and dug ourselves a huge hole. At the end of the day, that dictated the rest of the game.”

Blake Shapen threw two touchdown passes in the second half for the Bulldogs, and finished 28-of-39 for 319 yards. Eight players had at least 20 yards receiving. Kevin Coleman Jr. caught seven passes for 77 yards and a TD to lead the team.

Mississippi State will begin its Southeastern Conference schedule next Saturday, at home at 11 a.m. against a struggling Florida (1-2) team. After that, the Bulldogs go on the road to face No. 2 Texas and No. 1 Georgia in back-to-back games on Sept. 28 and Oct. 12, with a bye week in between.

“We’re going to fight like heck to fix every single bit of it. That’s my job. That’s what we’re supposed to do,” Lebby said. “I think our guys are going to be ready to get back in the building and go to work. Everybody is incredibly frustrated right now, incredibly disappointed that we played and coached the way we did in front of our home crowd. But regardless we’re going to kick off at 11 a.m. next Saturday morning right here at home.”

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