In preparation for Thursday’s non-conference showdown between Auburn and Kansas State, Saturday Down South is taking a look at the key matchups that may decide the showdown between the Tigers and Wildcats.

Kansas State QB Jake Waters vs. Auburn defense

This is the matchup that concerns the Tigers and defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson.

Waters leads the Wildcats in both passing and rushing yards and is the most versatile dual-threat signal caller Auburn has faced thus far.

The Tigers have had one troubling issue in its first two games when passing plays break down: defending the running quarterback. Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen did not pose a running threat in the Hogs Aug. 30 game in Auburn. However, San Jose State senior quarterback Blake Jurich, not known for his mobility, scrambled for four first downs on either broken down plays or designed runs.

Waters is much more athletic than Jurich. He’s somewhat of a poor man’s Tim Tebow. The guy is a competitor and just makes plays. He averages 95.0 yards per game on the ground, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. He’s averaging 231.o yards through the air, completing 61.4 percent of his passes. Waters now faces likely the most athletic defense he’s faced, perhaps with the exception of Oklahoma.

Athletic defensive linemen Gabe Wright and Montravius Adams have been moved back inside to the tackle position, which Johnson hopes gives the Tigers a more consistent pass rush. Linebackers Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy are veteran guys who are capable of both dropping into coverage and blitzing. McKinzy is tied for the team lead in tackles-for-loss. Auburn has struggled against mobile quarterbacks, though. The defensive line is not fighting off blocks quickly enough to contain, and if they struggle with that against Waters, he’s capable of gashing them both on the ground and through the air.

Both teams had byes leading up to Thursday’s nationally-televised contest. We’ll see what adjustments the Tigers have made as they look to capture a big win on the road.