Mississippi State (2-3, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) hosts Western Michigan (3-2, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) at 11 a.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium.

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

Quarterback

Will Rogers had an up-and-down first month of the season, throwing for a career-best 487 yards against South Carolina but struggling mightily against LSU and Alabama, posting a career-worst single-game completion percentage against the Tigers and throwing three interceptions against the Crimson Tide. Treyson Bourguet has won the job for Western Michigan in recent weeks over Jack Salopek, and the redshirt freshman is coming off his best game last week (24-for-39, 328 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions) against Ball State.

Edge: Mississippi State

Running back

The Bulldogs ran the ball reasonably well against Alabama — three different backs, plus Rogers and backup quarterback Mike Wright — all had at least one rush for 10-plus yards. Jo’Quavious “Woody” Marks is the lead back, but junior college transfer Jeffery Pittman and freshman Seth Davis have shown flashes of late. The Broncos’ offense runs through redshirt freshman Jalen Buckley, who has 558 rushing yards through five games on nearly six yards per carry. Zahir Abdus-Salaam also ran for a pair of touchdowns last week.

Edge: Western Michigan

Wide receiver/tight end

Lideatrick “Tulu” Griffin was limited to 21 receiving yards a week after setting MSU’s single-game program record with 256, but he figures to see more favorable matchups against Western Michigan. The Bulldogs also hope to get back Justin Robinson, who missed the Alabama game with an injury. Anthony Sambucci and Kenneth Womack are the Broncos’ top pass-catchers, and tight end Blake Bosma has also shown big-play capability.

Edge: Mississippi State

Offensive line

MSU has one of the most experienced fronts in college football, but the group has struggled at times to adjust to the new offense, particularly in pass protection. Western Michigan also returned five linemen with at least six starts, led by one of the best centers in the country in Jacob Gideon.

Edge: Mississippi State

Defensive line

The Bulldogs are seriously banged up here, with Trevion Williams out for the season and De’Monte Russell, Kalvin Dinkins and Jaden Crumedy also dealing with injuries. Nathan Pickering has been the lone consistent bright spot up front. The Broncos, while they have struggled defensively overall, have been good at getting to the quarterback, with Mason Nelson and Marshawn Kneeland leading the way from the line.

Edge: Western Michigan

Linebackers

MSU continues to lean heavily on the veteran duo of Jett Johnson and Nathaniel “Bookie” Watson, who lead the team in both tackles and sacks. The third spot has been in flux, with J.P. Purvis and John Lewis seeing more playing time recently over DeShawn Page. Donald Willis and Boone Bonnema have shown the ability to get into the backfield for Western Michigan.

Edge: Mississippi State

Secondary

The back end has been an area of concern for the Bulldogs — MSU’s corners and safeties just don’t have the speed to keep up with the SEC’s top receivers. Decamerion Richardson and Shawn Preston Jr. have been solid, but the rest of the unit has been exposed repeatedly in conference play. Michigan State transfer Tate Hallock is the Broncos’ leading tackler and has intercepted two passes and broken up three more, but apart from him, Western Michigan has also been searching for answers at times.

Edge: Even

Special teams

Bulldogs freshman kicker Kyle Ferrie continues to impress, having made four of five field goals from beyond 40 yards and seven of eight overall. Griffin and Zavion Thomas remain as dynamic as ever in the return game. The Broncos’ Palmer Domschke is just 2-for-3 on field goals this year with a long of 36, and the kick and punt returners have been nothing special.

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. OR 98 Malik Ellis Fr.

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 91 Deonte Anderson So.

NG 22 Nathan Pickering Sr.

DT 94 Jaden Crumedy Gr.

SLB 36 Donterry Russell R-Fr.

MLB 14 Nathaniel Watson Gr.

WLB 44 Jett Johnson Gr.

CB 3 Decamerion Richardson Sr.

S 7 Shawn Preston Gr.

S 10 Corey Ellington Jr.

S 1 Marcus Banks Sr.

CB 4 DeCarlos Nicholson Sr.

Special teams

K 80 Kyle Ferrie Fr.

P 83 Keelan Crimmins Fr.

Western Michigan

Offense

QB 2 Treyson Bourguet R-Fr. OR 6 Jack Salopek R-So.

RB 29 Jalen Buckley R-Fr.

WR 17 Malique Dieudonne R-So.

WR 5 Anthony Sambucci Jr.

WR 9 Kenneth Womack So.

TE 86 Blake Bosma R-Fr. OR 88 Austin Hence Gr.

LT 66 Michael Shanahan R-Sr.

LG 65 Trevor Campbell R-Sr. OR 51 John Hofer R-So.

C 77 Jacob Gideon Jr.

RG 75 Addison West R-So.

RT 73 Ted Kushi R-Sr.

Defense

DE 93 Corey Walker R-So.

DT 58 Tyson Lee R-So.

DT 54 Mason Nelson R-So.

DE 99 Marshawn Kneeland R-Jr.

LB 4 Damari Roberson R-Jr.

LB 22 Boone Bonnema R-Jr.

LB 8 Jacob Wahlberg R-Jr.

LB 15 Donald Willis R-Jr.

CB 2 Keni-H Lovely R-Sr.

S 25 Aaron Wofford R-So.

S 3 Tate Hallock Sr.

CB 0 Dashon Bussell R-Sr.

Special teams

K 37 Palmer Domschke So.

P 35 Cameron Peasley R-So. OR 45 Carson Voss R-So.