Taking a position-by-position look at No. 19 Ole Miss at Auburn, here’s what to watch for in Saturday’s showdown between the Rebels and the Tigers:

QUARTERBACK — Ole Miss: Chad Kelly’s first season in the SEC has been a smashing success. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior from Buffalo, N.Y. leads the conference in numerous passing categories, including yards per game (309.4), touchdowns (18), attempts (276) and completions (180). He does share the league lead with 10 interceptions, but that’s about the only blemish on his resume so far. Meanwhile, Sean White is coming off a tough road loss at Arkansas, where the Tigers lost in four overtimes, 54-46. White was OK, completing 19 of his 32 passes for 254 yards, but this was only his fourth game following Jeremy Johnson’s disastrous three-game stint to start the season. For the year, White has thrown just 1 INT in 97 attempts, but he has yet to throw a TD pass. The redshirt freshman has also gained 48 yards on 24 carries while Kelly has rushed 55 times for 141 yards and 4 TDs. The Rebels have a clear-cut edge here.

RUNNING BACKS — Auburn: Peyton Barber is having a solid sophomore season for the Tigers. The 5-foot-11, 225-pounder from Alpharetta, Ga., is in the top 5 in the SEC in the following rushing categories: yards (770), attempts (172) and touchdowns (12). Fellow sophomore Roc Thomas has chipped in with 151 yards on 33 carries and freshman Kerryon Johnson has rushed 32 times for 138 yards and a score. Thomas has also added 8 catches for 163 yards and a TD. Meanwhile, Jaylen Walton is delivering a solid senior season as the Rebels’ No. 1 running back, rushing 80 times for 428 yards and 3 TDs. Sophomore Jordan Wilkins (56 carries, 246 yards) and junior Akeem Judd (43 carries, 234 yards) have added two rushing scores apiece. Barber is the difference.

WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT END — Ole Miss: Is there anything Laquon Treadwell can’t do? Not only is the junior from Crete, Ill., leading SEC wideouts in catches (54) and yards (756), he also threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to fellow receiver Quincy Adeboyejo in Ole Miss’ 37-24 loss to Memphis on Oct. 17. Adeboyejo leads the Rebels with 6 TD catches, part of his 27 receptions for 438 yards. Cody Core (23 catches, 426 yards, 3 TDs) Damore’ea Stringfellow (20, 291, 2) and Markell Pack (21, 256, 3) have also been consistent contributors in Ole Miss’ passing game, while tight end Evan Engram has added 18 receptions for 196 yards and a score. Ricardo Louis has emerged as Auburn’s top wideout, leading the Tigers in catches (32) and yards (426). Melvin Ray (12 receptions, 139 yards) has 2 TD catches to lead Auburn. It’s the Rebels in a runaway here.

OFFENSIVE LINE — Ole Miss: The Tigers’ and Rebels’ rushing stats are nearly identical: Auburn has rushed 313 times for 1,264 yards and 18 touchdowns, which ranks 2nd in the SEC, while Ole Miss has 1,400 yards and 17 TDs on 287 attempts. The Tigers are 6th in the conference in rushing yards per game (180.6) while the Rebels are 7th (175.0). Auburn is 5th in the SEC in sacks allowed per game (1.6) while Ole Miss is 9th (1.8). But the fact that Ole Miss’ ball-carriers are averaging nearly a yard more per attempt (4.9 to 4.0) gives the Rebels’ blockers the edge.

DEFENSIVE LINE — Ole Miss: The Rebels are 8th in the SEC in rushing defense, allowing 121.1 yards a game. Meanwhile, Auburn is 12th, allowing 199.9 yards per contest. Ole Miss has just 13 sacks in eight games to rank 12th, and Auburn is 13th with 11 over seven games. Robert Nkemdiche was having a solid season for Ole Miss before a concussion on an offensive play knocked him out of the loss to Memphis and kept him out of last week’s win over Texas A&M. Teammate Marquis Haynes been outstanding for the Rebels with 23 total tackles, including 5.5 sacks among his 8 tackles for loss. The 6-3, 220-pound sophomore from Jacksonville, Fla., has also recorded 4 QB hurries, forced two fumbles and broken up two passes. Fadol Brown has an Ole Miss-leading 9 QB hurries to go along with 28 total tackles. On the other side, Montravius Adams (28 total tackles, 3 QB hurries, two forced fumbles, a sack and a pass break-up) has been the Tigers’ best lineman. Auburn freshman defensive lineman Dontavius Russell has made an impact with 27 total tackles — including 4.5 for loss — to go along with 5 QB hurries and 1.5 sacks.

LINEBACKERS — Auburn: No linebacker on either team has more than Kris Frost’s 59 total tackles. The senior has added 2 QB hurries, an interception, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Senior teammate Cassanova McKinzy has been very productive as well with 44 total tackles — including 6 for loss — and 3 sacks. But their Ole Miss counterparts have held their own, led by Denzel Nkemdiche (45 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss) and fellow sophomore DeMarquis Gates (36 total tackles, 2 QB hurries, 2 pass breakups). Senior C.J. Johnson (19 total tackles, 2 INTs, 3 QB hurries and 1 pass break-up) has been his reliable self. Nevertheless, the Tigers get a slight edge here based on their experience at this spot.

SECONDARY — Even: The numbers don’t seem to match the talent on both teams. Ole Miss is 9th in the SEC in passing defense, allowing 217.4 yards per game, while Auburn is 11th (230.7). The Rebels are 2nd in the conference with 11 interceptions but are next-to-last in passing TDs allowed (13). Meanwhile the Tigers rank 8th in the conference in both passing TDs allowed (8) and interceptions (6). Auburn’s Johnathan Ford (2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, one pass breakup) has one of those INTs to go along with a team-leading 72 total tackles, which is 2nd only to Missouri LB Kentrell Brothers’ 103 in the SEC. The Tigers’ Jonathan Jones (40 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble) leads Auburn with 7 pass breakups. Michigan transfer Blake Countess (34 total tackles, 5 pass breakups) has been solid for Auburn, and freshman teammate Carlton Davis has been a major contributor (20 total tackles, 4 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble). Meanwhile, the top players in the Rebels’ secondary have been standouts, too. Trae Elston (40 total tackles, 7 pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss) is tied for 1st in the SEC with his two pick-sixes, while his four INTs have him tied for 2nd in the conference. Teammate Mike Hilton (38 total tackles, including 8 for loss and 1.5 sacks) has been stellar as well. Kendarius Webster (24 total tackles) has a team-leading 8 pass breakups while A.J. Moore (22 total tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) and C.J. Moore (16 total tackles, 2 pass breakups) have been terrific twins.