Mississippi (4-5, 1-4 SEC) at No. 10 Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2, No. 8 CFP), 7:30 p.m. (SEC Network)
Line: Texas A&M by 10.
Series Record: Texas A&M leads 6-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The Aggies are looking to bounce back after an upset at Mississippi State last week that likely knocked them out of the College Football Playoff. The Rebels need two wins with just three games left to become bowl eligible for the fifth straight season.
KEY MATCHUP
QB Jake Hubenak vs. Mississippi’s pass defense. Hubenak will get his second career start in place of Trevor Knight, who is out for the season after injuring his shoulder last week. Hubenak threw for 222 yards with two touchdowns and an interception after taking over against Mississippi State when Knight was injured in the first half. This week he’ll face a pass defense ranked 56th in the country by allowing 220.4 yards passing a game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mississippi: QB Jason Pellerin. The freshman will likely get his first career start after senior Chad Kelly, who leads the SEC in passing yards a game, suffered a season-ending knee injury last week. Coach Hugh Freeze hasn’t confirmed that Pellerin will start, but said he would get most of the snaps in practice this week.
Texas A&M: WR/PR Christian Kirk. The sophomore has returned three punts for touchdowns in the past two games to give him five in his career. Kirk returned two against New Mexico State two weeks ago and a third one last week at Mississippi State. If he returns one on Saturday he will become the third player in FBS history and first since 2013 to have a punt return touchdown in three straight games.
FACTS & FIGURES
A victory would give coach Kevin Sumlin at least eight wins in each of his first five seasons at A&M. … Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams needs 196 yards rushing to become the first true freshman in school history to rush for 1,000 yards. … Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett needs two sacks to become the sixth player in SEC history to have 30 career sacks. … Mississippi’s Evan Engram ranks first in the nation among tight ends with 5.9 catches a game. … The Aggies rank second in the nation with 83 tackles for losses.
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