Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) hosts No. 12 Alabama (3-1, 1-0) at 8 p.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

Here’s who has the edge at each position between the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide.

Quarterback

Will Rogers bounced back from a poor performance against LSU with a career-high 487 passing yards last week at South Carolina, and consistently found open receivers deep downfield. That might be harder against a secondary as strong as Alabama’s, but encouraging signs nonetheless. The Tide, after rotating through two other passers, have gone back to Jalen Milroe as their starter, as it is clear he gives Alabama the best chance to win. Milroe turned in an efficient performance in last week’s victory against Ole Miss.

Edge: Even

Running back

MSU did not run the ball much last week, but even so, Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks and company struggled to find openings against a defense that has problems stopping the run. The Crimson Tide’s top two running backs, Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams, are each averaging more than five yards per carry and are similarly built.

Edge: Alabama

Wide receiver/tight end

Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin set a Bulldogs single-game program record with 256 receiving yards against South Carolina, and Justin Robinson and Zavion Thomas also had strong outings. Alabama has two big-play targets in Jermaine Burton and Isaiah Bond, who are sure to test a secondary that has been susceptible to explosive plays for the last three games.

Edge: Alabama

Offensive line

MSU returned four starters up front but has allowed four sacks in each of its first two SEC games, and run blocking was an issue last week as well. The Crimson Tide have the heaviest starting offensive line in the conference with an average weight of just under 340 pounds, with right tackle JC Latham and center Seth McLaughlin among the SEC’s best according to advanced metrics.

Edge: Alabama

Defensive line

This was an area of improvement for the Bulldogs in the South Carolina game, as Nathan Pickering recorded a pair of sacks and Deonte Anderson and Jaden Crumedy continue to show promise. Alabama has two of the best edge rushers in all of college football in Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell, with a combined eight sacks already to their credit through four games.

Edge: Alabama

Linebackers

MSU’s veteran duo of Jett Johnson and Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson topped the SEC tackles leaderboard in 2022 and are both in the top 5 again this year, with Johnson holding the top spot. The Tide’s Deontae Lawson led all SEC linebackers last season in yards allowed per coverage snap, but he has been dealing with a sprained ankle and is questionable for Saturday.

Edge: Even

Secondary

The Bulldogs have been vulnerable in the back end, allowing opposing starting quarterbacks to complete nearly 90% of their passes over the last two games with explosive plays aplenty. Alabama, meanwhile, has a trio of NFL prospects at cornerback. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the headliner, but Malachi Moore and Terrion Arnold can also shut down receivers and ignite themselves into the offensive backfield.

Edge: Alabama

Special teams

MSU has two of the most dangerous return men in the country with Griffin and Thomas, and freshman kicker Kyle Ferrie has already made four field goals from beyond 45 yards. Even the punters were strong last week with both Andrew Osteen and Keelan Crimmins pinning South Carolina up against its own end zone. Kicker had been an area of relative weakness for many years for the Crimson Tide, but Will Reichard is perfect this season with a long of 51. Punter James Burnip has booted seven 50-plus yard kicks.

Edge: Mississippi State

Starters

Mississippi State

Offense

QB 2 Will Rogers Sr.

RB 7 Jo’Quavious Marks Sr.

WR 3 Justin Robinson R-Jr. OR 19 Freddie Roberson R-Sr.

WR 5 Lideatrick Griffin Sr.

WR 1 Zavion Thomas So.

TE 88 Ryland Goede Gr.

LT 69 Kwatrivous Johnson Gr.

LG 66 Nick Jones Sr.

C 57 Cole Smith Gr.

RG 64 Steven Losoya III R-Sr.

RT 58 Kameron Jones Gr.

Defense

DE 9 De’Monte Russell Sr.

NG 22 Nathan Pickering Sr.

DT 94 Jaden Crumedy Gr.

SLB 0 DeShawn Page Sr.

MLB 14 Nathaniel Watson Gr.

WLB 44 Jett Johnson Gr.

CB 3 Decamerion Richardson Sr.

S 7 Shawn Preston Gr.

S 21 Hunter Washington R-So.

S 1 Marcus Banks Sr.

CB 4 DeCarlos Nicholson Sr.

Special teams

K 80 Kyle Ferrie Fr.

P 83 Keelan Crimmins Fr.

Alabama

Offense

QB 4 Jalen Milroe R-So.

RB 2 Jase McClellan Sr.

WR 3 Jermaine Burton Sr.

WR 11 Malik Benson Jr. OR 7 Ja’Corey Brooks Jr.

WR 17 Isaiah Bond So.

TE 81 CJ Dippre Jr. OR 87 Danny Lewis R-Fr.

LT 74 Kaydn Proctor Fr.

LG 52 Tyler Booker So.

C 56 Seth McLaughlin Sr.

RG 71 Darrian Dalcourt Gr.

RT 65 JC Latham Jr.

Defense

DE 91 Jaheim Oatis So.

NG 96 Tim Keenan III R-So.

DE 92 Justin Eboigbe R-Sr.

EDGE 41 Chris Braswell Sr.

SLB 15 Dallas Turner Jr.

MLB 17 Trezmen Marshall R-Sr.

WLB 32 Deontae Lawson R-So.

CB 1 Kool-Aid McKinstry Jr.

CB 3 Terrion Arnold R-So.

FS 6 Jalen Key Gr.

SS 2 Caleb Downs Fr.

STAR 13 Malachi Moore Sr.

Special teams

K 16 Will Reichard Gr.

P 86 James Burnip R-Jr.