Texas A&M Aggies vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs: Keys To The Game

The Texas A&M Aggies trail the head-to-head series against the Mississippi State Bulldogs 7-9.

Last season, the Texas A&M Aggies had 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground while quarterbacks Max Johnson and Haynes King completed 64.1 percent of their 39 pass attempts for 252 yards and a score.

After getting shut out in the first half, the Aggies nearly kept pace with the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the second, putting up 24 points to their 28. Mississippi State walked away with the 42-24 win, but Texas A&M is out for revenge in 2023. 

And with bowl eligibility on the line, they will not hold back against the ailing Bulldogs.

Here's the difference in the ballgame for both the Aggies and Bulldogs when the two square off Nov. 11 at Kyle Field.

Texas A&M running back Amari Daniels breaks free vs. Ole Miss  / Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M wins if...

... it gets off to a fast start.

The Aggies have had a bad habit of getting off to slow starts this season, including falling into a 14-0 hole early in their loss to the Ole Miss Rebels last week.

While the Bulldogs are not the same animal as the No. 9 Rebels, Texas A&M can't afford to find themselves in another early hole with State linebackers Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson roaming and anchoring a stingy defense. 

And if Will Rogers gets back into the lineup, the Bulldogs will also have the advantage at quarterback. 

Mississippi State wins if...

... it can stop the run.

The Aggies' strength offensively with Max Johnson under center has been in the ground game, where they have fielded a three-headed attack of Le'Veon Moss, Amari Daniels, and Reuben Owens. 

If the Bulldogs can take that away, especially early, and force the Aggies to be one-dimensional, they should have the advantage - especially if Rogers is able to come back.