The Matchup: No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 12 Mississippi State

The Venue: Davis Wade Stadum

The Kick: Noon ET

TV: ESPN

Series record: Texas A&M leads the series 4-3 all-time.

Last meeting: Texas A&M fended off a feisty Mississippi State team in a 51-41 win in College Station last season. The two teams combined for 1,093 total yards and 92 total points in a high-scoring affair, and A&M’s Johnny Manziel completed 30 of 39 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions to keep Mississippi State in the game, and Dak Prescott ran for 154 yards in leading an aggressive Bulldogs offense. Unfortunately for MSU, a late fourth quarter rally fell short in just the seventh-ever meeting between the two teams at the time.

Coaches: Dan Mullen (40-28) vs. Kevin Sumlin (60-23)

Last game (Mississippi State): The Bulldogs earned their biggest victory of the Dan Mullen era two weeks ago with a 34-29 win over then-No. 8 LSU in Death Valley. Prescott threw for 200 yards and ran for 100 yards for the third straight game, and the defense stifled LSU for most of the game before a late Tigers rally. The win vaulted Mississippi State into the rankings for the first time since 2012, and the Bulldogs are well rested after a bye last week.

Last game (Texas A&M): Texas A&M pulled a rabbit out of its hat with a magical 35-28 come-from-behind overtime win over Arkansas last week. The Aggies trailed 28-21 late in the fourth quarter before Kenny Hill found wideout Josh Reynolds for a 59-yard touchdown to tie the game. Hill hit Malcome Kennedy on a 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime, and the A&M defense got a much-needed stop to clinch a crucial SEC West victory.

Mississippi State wins if: Prescott has another Heisman-caliber performance like he did against LSU two weeks ago. When Prescott is at his best, no defense in the SEC can stop him. In facing one of the SEC’s top offenses, Prescott will need to electrify and lead Mississippi State to at least 35 points to have a chance at another win over a top 10 team.

Texas A&M wins if: The Aggies can beat Mississippi State over the top for a few big plays. No team in the SEC has had more big plays through the air than A&M, and no team in the conference has allowed more big pass plays than Mississippi State. If Texas A&M can take advantage of this mismatch, it should be able to control another high-scoring game with its potent offense.

What it means if Mississippi State wins: A Mississippi State victory would mean the win on the road at LSU was no fluke, but rather a coming out party for one of the SEC West’s best teams. Bulldogs fans and national experts remain skeptical of Mississippi State’s chances in the SEC West this year considering the program’s lack of success against ranked teams in the Mullen era, but if MSU can earn a second straight win over a highly ranked division foe, it would indicate to many that this team is for real.

What it means if Texas A&M wins: A Texas A&M victory simply advances the top 10-ranked Aggies another week into the season. It’s crowded at the top of the West standings, and A&M is considered among the serious contenders to win the division. Taking care of another tough West opponent one week after beating Arkansas would elevate the Aggies to 6-0 at the midway point of their season, keeping them in the mix to win the West and reach the College Football Playoff. Texas A&M is favored in this matchup, so a win would simply advance the team another week among the ranks of the unbeatens.