Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) hosts No. 14 Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0) for a 3:15 p.m. kickoff on SEC Network. Here’s who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Aggies.
Quarterback
Freshman Michael Van Buren grew up fast last week at Georgia, recovering from a poor first half and throwing his first three collegiate touchdown passes. He also showed better command of the pocket, not surrendering a single sack. Texas A&M’s Conner Weigman returned after a three-game absence two weeks ago against previously-undefeated Missouri and played his best game of the season, completing 18 of 22 passes for 276 yards.
Edge: Texas A&M
Running back
After solid showings against Florida and Texas, MSU rushed for just 79 yards on 26 carries in the Georgia game. Davon Booth and Johnnie Daniels were going nowhere in the first half before finding a few openings in the second half. The Aggies have one of the best backs in the SEC in Le’Veon Moss, who is rushing for more than 100 yards per game on 6.9 yards per carry. Moss had 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries against Missouri.
Edge: Texas A&M
Wide receiver/tight end
The Bulldogs managed to get Kelly Akharaiyi involved against Georgia for his first two touchdowns in the maroon and white, and he makes an already dangerous group that includes Kevin Coleman, Mario Craver and Jordan Mosley even better. Texas A&M’s top targets, Noah Thomas, Cyrus Allen and Jahdae Walker, are talented but not quite as prolific.
Edge: Mississippi State
Offensive line
MSU starting left tackle Makylan Pounders, who has underperformed for much of the year, was out with an illness in the Georgia game and freshman Luke Work started in his place. Work committed a pair of false start penalties but helped protect Van Buren. The Aggies brought back three starters up front — to the Bulldogs’ zero — led by left tackle Trey Zuhn III. Starting center Mark Nabou sustained a season-ending ACL tear in Week 1 against Notre Dame.
Edge: Texas A&M
Defensive line
Kalvin Dinkins remains out for MSU, and Kedrick Bingley-Jones is doubtful after playing last week for the first time since Sept. 14 against Toledo. Trevion Williams was also injured late in the Georgia game but was not on this week’s initial injury report. Texas A&M’s pass rush tied Arkansas’ Taylen Green and Missouri’s Brady Cook in knots, and Purdue transfer Nic Scourton is lethal when he gets into the backfield, with 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks through six games.
Edge: Texas A&M
Linebackers
Stone Blanton led the Bulldogs with nine tackles, eight of them solo, against Georgia last week. But this is a unit that just doesn’t make enough game-changing plays. Outside of leading tackler Taurean York, the Aggies haven’t received a ton of production from their linebackers either, though the defense as a whole has caused plenty of havoc.
Edge: Texas A&M
Secondary
Two MSU cornerbacks — Brice Pollock and DeAgo Brumfield — intercepted a pass in the Georgia game, after the Bulldogs had zero interceptions from the cornerbacks in the entire 2023 season. Still, this is a unit that has struggled to defend the pass and is routinely victimized by big plays. Marcus Ratcliffe has three interceptions for Texas A&M, and Will Lee III is second in the SEC with eight pass breakups.
Edge: Texas A&M
Special teams
Nick Barr-Mira remains effective for MSU on both punts and kickoffs, and Kyle Ferrie nailed his only field goal attempt last week from 47 yards out. As dynamic as Coleman is in the return game, opportunities have been hard to come by. The Aggies’ Randy Bond is 11-for-13 on field goals this season and perfect inside 40 yards, while Tyler White has been exceptional at punter. Terry Bussey is Texas A&M’s primary kick and punt returner, but he has just eight combined returns halfway through the season.
Edge: Even
Starters
Mississippi State
Offense
QB 0 Michael Van Buren Fr.
RB 21 Davon Booth Sr. OR 20 Johnnie Daniels Jr.
WR 3 Kevin Coleman Jr.
WR 6 Jordan Mosley Jr.
WR 7 Mario Craver Fr. OR 1 Kelly Akharaiyi Sr.
TE 18 Seydou Traore R-Jr. OR 84 Justin Ball Sr.
LT 66 Makylan Pounders Jr.
LG 75 Jacoby Jackson Jr.
C 67 Ethan Miner Sr.
RG 77 Marlon Martinez Sr.
RT 76 Albert Reese IV Jr.
Defense
DT 23 Trevion Williams R-Fr.
DT 8 Sulaiman Kpaka Sr. OR 90 Kai McClendon Fr.
DE 9 De’Monte Russell Sr.
JACK 11 Ty Cooper Jr. OR 44 Branden Jennings Jr.
MLB 7 Stone Blanton Jr.
DIME 40 Nic Mitchell Jr. OR 5 John Lewis Jr.
STAR 2 Isaac Smith So.
CB 3 Brylan Lanier Jr. OR 1 Kelley Jones R-Fr.
FS 10 Corey Ellington Sr.
SS 21 Hunter Washington Jr.
CB 14 Brice Pollock So.
Specialists
K 80 Kyle Ferrie So.
P 82 Nick Barr-Mira Sr.
Texas A&M
Offense
QB 15 Conner Weigman So.
RB 8 Le’Veon Moss Jr.
WR 3 Noah Thomas Jr.
WR 6 Cyrus Allen Jr.
WR 9 Jahdae Walker Sr.
TE 84 Tre Watson Sr.
LT 60 Trey Zuhn III Jr.
LG 71 Chase Bisontis So.
C 61 Kolinu’u Faaiu Jr.
RG 55 Ar’maj Reed-Adams Jr.
RT 78 Dametrious Crownover Jr. OR 76 Reuben Fatheree II Sr.
Defense
DE 11 Nic Scourton Jr.
DT 5 Shemar Turner Sr.
DT 13 DJ Hicks So. OR 17 Albert Regis Jr.
DE 4 Shemar Stewart Jr.
JACK 18 Cashius Howell Jr.
LB 22 Solomon DeShields Sr. OR 27 Daymion Sanford So. OR 0 Scooby Williams Jr.
LB 21 Taurean York So.
CB 20 BJ Mayes Sr. OR 14 Jayvon Thomas So.
CB 26 Will Lee III Jr. OR 10 Dezz Ricks Fr.
S 1 Bryce Anderson Jr.
S 25 Dalton Brooks So. OR 9 Trey Jones III Gr. OR 3 Marcus Ratcliffe So.
Specialists
K 47 Randy Bond Gr.
P 37 Tyler White R-Fr.
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