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Positional Matchups: Texas A&M Football vs. Mississippi State

By Graham Harmon

Oct 1, 2022; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Dillon Johnson (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Turner (5) during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2022; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Dillon Johnson (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Shemar Turner (5) during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bulldog Rush Offense vs Rush Defense for Texas A&M Football

This is the best part of the offense for Mississippi State this season, which makes sense: new OC Kevin Barbay is innovative in the run game, as Aggie fans know all too painfully well. The Bulldogs are the only team in the SEC, and likely one of very few in all of FBS, who have a higher PPA/rush than PPA/pass; in other words, each rush attempt, on average, increases their chances of winning the game more than each pass attempt on average. That’s a pretty big outlier—Auburn is the only other SEC team who is close to hitting that same mark. That said, Texas A&M football is the best rush defense in the conference by a fair margin, so that’s bad news for the Bulldogs. They were able to find some creases against Alabama here and there, but other than that, I don’t see anything on the tape that really worries me. Advantage Score: Aggies by 4

Bulldog Pass Offense vs Pass Defense for Texas A&M Football

This has been something of a schizophrenic passing defense for the Aggies so far this year. Of course, being down your two starters at corner doesn’t help when you’re facing a pass attack like Ole Miss, but the Aggies had already demonstrated a penchant for giving up some big plays through the air in select games up to that point. However, in the other games, the Aggie pass defense has been pretty stifling, giving up fewer than 6 YPA in almost every contest. Whether or not Will Rogers plays, I don’t think this State offense has what it takes to reach that “freeze point” for the Aggie passing defense, so I see the Bulldogs having significant trouble through the air. Advantage Score: Aggies by 5

Bulldog OL vs. Pass Rush for Texas A&M Football

The Bulldogs are not as bad as some of the teams the Aggies have seen when it comes to giving up pressure, but they’re not exactly stellar at protecting the quarterback, either. After what happened last week, where the Aggies were largely unable to get home with their pressures, I expect this front for Texas A&M football to come out of the gate with their hair on fire and create some havoc for the Bulldogs. I see 5+ sacks and double-digit TFLs in this one. Advantage Score: Aggies by 5