Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State: Five things to watch for

While the score of last week's win over Auburn does not quite tell the story of Texas A&M's dominance in the SEC opener, the Aggies have the opportunity to erase any doubt at Kyle Field on Saturday night.

For the first time since 2021, Texas A&M is ranked as a top-five program after stringing together four consecutive wins, including the Week 3 road victory over Notre Dame and last Saturday's result against the Tigers. Head coach Mike Elko now has 12 total wins since being hired, but there are bigger and better aspirations on the minds of the Aggies.

Those dreams could be crushed if the Maroon and White do not show up prepared for a much-improved Mississippi State team, however. If the league opener against Hugh Freeze and company is a sign of the progression that Texas A&M will continue to make in Week 6, this could end with the Aggies reigning over the Bulldogs and moving to 5-0 in the 2025 campaign.

Here are the five things to watch for in Saturday night's blackout contest against Mississippi State at Kyle Field in Bryan-College Station, Texas:

Can Texas A&M's defensive line hold firm against a fierce MSU rushing attack?

Texas A&M's defensive line took a massive step forward in Week 5, as the Aggies recorded five sacks against a high-powered Auburn offense. However, the trenches have displayed weaknesses in the run defense, allowing 117.25 yards on the ground per game, which ranks 10th in the SEC so far this season. With the way Mississippi State running back Fluff Bothwell is performing in 2025, it will be integral for the Aggies to dominate the line of scrimmage and halt the Bulldog rushing attack.

Will the Aggie secondary shut down QB Blake Shapen and the Bulldog wide receiving corps?

While the Bulldogs' offensive attack ranks in the middle of the pack in the conference in almost every passing category so far this season, the statistics do not truly equate to the amount of talent the Aggie secondary will face this Saturday night. Experienced cornerbacks like Will Lee III and Dezz Ricks will play significant roles in defending against the MSU offense, which ranks fifth in the SEC in total scoring.

Can the Aggies clean up the penalties?

The penalties that reared their ugly head against Auburn last weekend will need to see significant improvement against a Mississippi State team that has played incredibly clean so far this season. Texas A&M was penalized 13 for 119 yards against the Tigers, which can't happen against a fast-paced Bulldog offense that can capitalize extremely quickly off mistakes.

Can Texas A&M's special teams play consistently?

As simple as it may seem, the consistency of the Aggie special teams unit will need to be razor-sharp entering Saturday. Randy Bond's two missed field goals did not factor into the result, but it could be the difference between winning and being upset come Saturday.

How important will it be for the Aggies to establish dominance on the ground?

One of the key reasons that Texas A&M dominated a talented Auburn defense in Week 5 was the contributions of running back Le'Veon Moss on the ground. Moss rushed for 141 yards and the sole touchdown for the Maroon and White on 21 carries. MSU's rushing attack has struggled at times this season, ranking 11th in the conference in rushing yards allowed per game. If Moss, Rueben Owens II, and Amari Daniels can get going, the Aggies could find much success on the ground.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M football's five things to watch against Mississippi State