Mississippi State (1-3, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) visits No. 1 Texas (4-0) on Saturday for a 3:15 p.m. kickoff on SEC Network. Here’s who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Longhorns.
Quarterback
With starter Blake Shapen sidelined by a season-ending shoulder injury, true freshman Michael Van Buren will make his first start for MSU, and redshirt freshman Chris Parson will also play. Combined, they’ve played in five games with one start. Texas starter Quinn Ewers is questionable for Saturday with an injury, but the Longhorns have Arch Manning, who is descended from NFL royalty and has played well through two appearances so far this year.
Edge: Texas
Running back
Neither team is fully healthy here, either. The Bulldogs lost Keyvone Lee for an extended period last week against Florida, so Davon Booth and Johnnie Daniels will need to carry the load. MSU did have some success running the ball against the Gators for the first time all season. Texas lost its top two running backs before the season started, but Jerrick Gibson and Jaydon Blue have been more than adequate replacements.
Edge: Texas
Wide receiver/tight end
This is still the Bulldogs’ best position group, even though sophomore Creed Whittemore is out this week and possibly for the season. Jordan Mosley, Kevin Coleman, Mario Craver and Kelly Akharaiyi give the young quarterbacks some nice security blankets, and tight end Seydou Traore is coming along of late. The Longhorns are without Xavier Worthy, who has moved on to the NFL, but Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond has taken over as their leading receiver. Texas also has freshman Ryan Wingo, Gunnar Helm and Matthew Golden to form a strong receiving corps.
Edge: Even
Offensive line
MSU’s offensive line played its best game of the year a week ago, protecting Shapen when he was in the game and opening up holes for the running backs, but this is still a group prone to sacks and penalties as the starters learn how to play as a unit. Texas has one of the country’s best offensive fronts, anchored by tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., a projected top-10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Hayden Conner, Jake Majors and DJ Campbell are also returning starters.
Edge: Texas
Defensive line
The Bulldogs are still without Kalvin Dinkins, and Kedrick Bingley-Jones is questionable to play Saturday. That leaves De’Monte Russell and Trevion Williams to pick up the slack up front, and stopping the run and getting to the quarterback have been very difficult for this MSU team. The Longhorns are elite on the edges, with Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke returning and Trey Moore coming in as a transfer from UTSA. Freshman Colin Simmons also already has three tackles for loss and two sacks.
Edge: Texas
Linebackers
At least the Bulldogs are healthy here. Nic Mitchell is starting to come into his own alongside Stone Blanton and Branden Jennings, but MSU just doesn’t have anyone who can take over a game. Texas’ linebackers have had no trouble getting into the backfield, led by Anthony Hill Jr., David Gbenda and Liona Lefau, who have a combined 10 tackles for loss.
Edge: Texas
Secondary
Safety Isaac Smith’s return would put the Bulldogs at close to full strength in the back end, and Jones and Brice Pollock are serviceable as cornerbacks. But this is a unit that too often loses track of receivers and leaves them swaths of open space in the middle of the field. Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba and Jahdae Barron lead the way for the Longhorns, and Malik Muhammad, Derrick Williams Jr. and Gavin Holmes all played at least 300 snaps in 2023.
Edge: Texas
Special teams
Bulldogs kicker Kyle Ferrie did not attempt a field goal last week, but he remains troubled by a lack of consistency. Punter Nick Barr-Mira has impressed after moving into that role, and Coleman is dynamic as a punt returner when he gets the chance to make a return. Texas’ Bert Auburn is just 2-for-3 on field goals this year, and the return game has not offered much to this point for the Longhorns.
Edge: Mississippi State
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 22 Kedrick Bingley-Jones Jr. OR 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 50 Nic Mitchell Jr. OR 5 John Lewis Jr.
STAR 3 Brylan Lanier Jr.
FS 2 Isaac Smith So.
SS 21 Hunter Washington Jr.
CB 1 Kelley Jones R-Fr. OR 6 Traveon Wright R-Fr.
CB 14 Brice Pollock So.
Specialists
K 80 Kyle Ferrie So.
P 82 Nick Barr-Mira Sr.
Texas
Offense
QB 3 Quinn Ewers R-Jr. OR 16 Arch Manning R-Fr.
RB 23 Jaydon Blue Jr.
WR 7 Isaiah Bond Jr.
WR 2 Matthew Golden Jr.
WR 5 Ryan Wingo Fr.
TE 85 Gunnar Helm Sr.
LT 78 Kelvin Banks Jr.
LG 76 Hayden Conner Sr.
C 65 Jake Majors R-Sr.
RG 52 DJ Campbell Jr.
RT 56 Cameron Williams Jr.
Defense
DT 95 Alfred Collins Sr.
NT 15 Bill Norton Gr.
DT 45 Vernon Broughton R-Sr.
EDGE 8 Trey Moore R-Jr.
JACK 88 Barryn Sorrell Sr.
MLB 0 Anthony Hill So.
WLB 33 David Gbenda R-Sr.
STAR 3 Jaylon Guilbeau Jr.
CB 7 Jahdae Barron Sr.
FS 16 Michael Taaffe R-Jr.
CB 5 Malik Muhammad So.
Specialists
K 45 Bert Auburn R-Jr.
P 39 Michael Kern Fr.
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