We take a position-by-position look at Saturday’s showdown between No. 21 Mississippi State and No. 14 Texas A&M at Kyle Field:

QUARTERBACK — Mississippi State: This one is a tough call. Dak Prescott is off to a solid start, leading the SEC’s No. 2 passing offense in terms of yards per game (303.5). Prescott has completed 66.9% of his passes for 1,069 yards, seven TDs and no interceptions. The senior is not running as much as he has in previous seasons, but he is still averaging four yards a carry and has two rushing TDs. Prescott’s counterpart, Kyle Allen, has a lower completion percentage (65.3) and has thrown for fewer yards (952), but he has more passing TDs (11) and a higher passer rating (179.9 to 146.4). Prescott gets the edge here because of his experience — particularly in big games last year — and because he has thrown fewer picks.

RUNNING BACKS — Texas A&M: Tra Carson is the Aggies’ workhorse, rushing 69 times for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Brice Dolezal has added 107 yards and a score on 20 carries, and freshman Kwame Etwi is averaging a team-leading 8.6 yards per attempt on just 14 carries. Brandon Holloway leads the Bulldogs with 134 yards on only 18 rushes, but none of Mississippi State’s running backs is averaging more than 33.5 yards per game. That’s why the Aggies get the nod here.

WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT END — Texas A&M: Christian Kirk has been one of the best wideouts in the country with his SEC-leading 110.5 receiving yards per game. The Aggies freshman is also second in the league in receptions (24) and receiving TDs (four). Josh Reynolds (11 receptions, 242 yards, three TDs), whose 22 yards-per-catch is third in the SEC, is a solid weapon also. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ Fred Ross has a team-leading 22 receptions and 219 yards, and teammate De’Runnya Wilson has added 16 catches for 201 yards and two TDs. Gus Walley has been one of the conference’s top receiving tight ends with his 15 grabs for 109 yards and a TD, but the Aggies’ playmakers get the edge.

OFFENSIVE LINE — Mississippi State: Both teams have rushed for seven touchdowns, but the Bulldogs are fifth in the SEC in yards per attempt (5.2). A&M is rushing for more yards per game (186.5 to 144.75) but is only eighth in the conference in yards per rush (4.8). The Bulldogs have allowed just five sacks over their four games while the Aggies have yielded a whopping 12, which is tied with Kentucky for the most in the SEC, so MSU’s line wins this matchup.

DEFENSIVE LINE — Texas A&M: The Aggies have an SEC-best 17 sacks, with Myles Garrett leading the league with his 6.5. Teammate Daeshon Hall is tied for second in the conference with four sacks. Freshman Daylon Mack has made four tackles for loss while Alonzo Williams has added 3.5. The Bulldogs, who are third in the league with 12 sacks, are led by A.J. Jefferson with his 3.5 sacks. Both teams have two of the worst run defenses in the league with the Bulldogs ranking 12th in rushing yards allowed per game (178.8) and the Aggies ranking 13th (179.3).

LINEBACKERS — Mississippi State: Richie Brown, who also has an interception, leads the Bulldogs in total tackles (39). Shaan Washington has made 24 total tackles for the Aggies.

SECONDARY — Even: The defensive backfield has helped the Bulldogs rank third in the SEC in passing yards allowed per game (170.3), while Texas A&M is surrendering 187.8 yards through the air per contest to rank fourth. The Aggies are 10th in the league in opponents’ passer rating (117.5), while Mississippi State is 12th (120.1). Donovan Wilson, who leads the Aggies with two interceptions, also has four tackles for loss — including two sacks — and teammate Armani Watts leads the A&M secondary with 32 total tackles. Will Redmond leads the Bulldogs with two picks and has made 19 total tackles.