Position-by-position edge: Texas A&M vs. UCLA

The Texas A&M Aggies kick off the 2016 season at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday when they host the Pac-12 South favorite UCLA Bruins at Kyle Field. The game will be televised nationally by CBS.

Here’s a closer look at how the two teams match up head-to-head:

When Texas A&M has the ball

QB Trevor Knight vs. UCLA pass defense: The unknown is Knight taking the reins of the Aggies’ offense under a new system that is anything but unknown to UCLA. That’s where Aggies offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone spent the last four seasons before coming to College Station.

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What is also known is that UCLA led the Pac-12 last season in defending the pass, allowing an average of just 203.2 yards per game. The Bruins return the bulk of their defense from last season. That could spell trouble for a new QB in his first game in a new system.

EDGE: UCLA

RB James White/Keith Ford/Trayveon Williams vs. UCLA run defense: White seems to have the edge among the trio, but don’t be surprised to see all three carry the football on Saturday. Mazzone’s quick, up-tempo style relies heavily on the run, and having fresh backs will only add to its effectiveness. UCLA was mediocre at best against the run last season, finishing eighth in the conference while allowing an average of 198.5 yards per game. This could bode well for a trio of Aggies running backs looking to start the season with a bang.

EDGE: Texas A&M

Aggies WRs vs. UCLA DBs: The Aggies have arguably the best receiving corps in the SEC, but as has already been mentioned, the Bruins were most stingy against the pass. And the secondary returns nearly intact. It’s strength vs. strength. While the Bruins’ secondary is very fast and quick to the ball, it’s a height disparity that the Aggies’ receivers must utilize to their advantage. Of the Bruins’ four regulars in the secondary, none reach 6-foot tall while Ricky-Seals Jones measures 6-foot-5, Josh Reynolds is 6-foot-4 and Damion Ratley is 6-foot-3. The shortest of the group, Christian Kirk — at 5-foot-11 — still measures up in stature to the tallest of UCLA’s secondary and has great leaping ability.

EDGE: Texas A&M

When Texas A&M is on defense

QB Josh Rosen vs. Texas A&M pass defense: Rosen broke all sorts of school records last season as a freshman. He totaled 3,668 yards through the air and 23 touchdowns under the tutelage of Mazzone, who will be on the other sideline for Saturday’s game. The Bruins are changing to a more pro-style offense, and while that may play well in the Pac-12 this season, it could also be playing right into the hands of the Aggies’ defense, where bookend sack masters Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall reside.

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Garrett, the SEC leader in sacks (12.5), will be tough to handle, and Hall (7.0 sacks) will be attempting to plow through from the other side. The Bruins allowed a conference-best 14 sacks in 2015, but they have a somewhat revamped offensive line that will certainly have its hands full in protecting Rosen as he seeks out open targets from a group of relatively new receivers.

EDGE: Texas A&M

RB Soso Jamabo/Nate Starks vs. Texas A&M run defense: Combined, Jamabo and Starks rushed for 724 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. Whether one or both can match what Paul Perkins (1,343 yards, 14 TDs) did last season as the Bruins’ featured back is doubtful. However, Texas A&M’s troubles stopping the run is well-documented. If history is any indication, Aggies DC John Chavis will have his troops ready for improvement. But until it physically comes to fruition, this aspect of the Aggies’ defense remains the biggest question mark.

EDGE: UCLA

UCLA WRs vs. Texas A&M DBs: This is perhaps the most interesting matchup in terms of unknowns and what-ifs, especially when you factor in Aggies DB Priest Willis is a UCLA transfer. He’ll go up against a Bruins receiving corps that is relatively untested. Only Darren Andrews, with 43 catches for 443 yards and 1 touchdown, caught more than 11 passes last season. Couple that with corner Nick Harvey and perhaps the best safety tandem in the SEC in Armani Watts and Justin Evans, and it could be a long night for Rosen and the Bruins.

EDGE: Texas A&M

Special teams

Both teams are replacing their punter and kicker, and the Bruins’ leading punt and kick returners were both seniors last season. Kirk, on the other hand, was sensational for the Aggies as a freshman last season, averaging 24.4 yards per punt return on 14 attempts, two of which he took to the house. He also averaged 19.3 on kickoff returns. Kirk, alone, is enough to sway this category.

EDGE: Texas A&M