No. 2 Alabama hosts Mississippi State minus Waddle
By The Associated Press - Oct. 29, 2020 02:25 PM EDT
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) lines up a pass against Alabama during an NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) lines up a pass against Alabama during an NCAA college football game in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (Caitie McMekin/Knoxville News Sentinel via AP)
Mississippi State coach Mike Leach stands on the sideline during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2020, file photo, Alabama head football coach Nick Saban leads his team as they march on campus, supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The mid-week news that Alabama coach Nick Saban tested positive for COVID-19 added a challenging backdrop for the season’s first Top 5 matchup. Saban figures to be communicating his marching orders and input from home while offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is manning the show within the football building. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers (2) passes under pressure from Texas A&M linebacker Aaron Hansford (33) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
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Mississippi State (1-3 SEC) at No. 2 Alabama (5-0), Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Line: Alabama by 30.

Series record: Alabama leads 82-18-13.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Mississippi State is trying to add another bright spot to a season that has gone downhill since an opening win over LSU that now looks less impressive. Alabama is trying to sustain the momentum heading into an open date. The Crimson Tide is also adjusting to life without injured star wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

KEY MATCHUP

It's Alabama and the SEC's top pass offense against the league's No. 1 pass defense. The Bulldogs are allowing just 192.3 yards per game through the air. Quarterback Mac Jones and the Tide rank third nationally with an average of 397.8 yards a game and still have plenty of weapons.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mississippi St.: QBs K.J. Costello and Will Rogers opened the week “neck and neck" for the starting job, according to coach Mike Leach. Both have thrown more interceptions than touchdowns. Rogers, though, was 15-of-18 passing against Texas A&M and, unlike Costello, didn't throw a pick. The Bulldogs are averaging 358 passing yards per game but rank last in the league and 98th overall in turnover margin.

Alabama: WR Slade Bolden is set to replace Waddle likely as a starter on offense and as the punt return man. He doesn't have to put up huge numbers with DeVonta Smith and John Metchie III, but it's a chance for him to carve a role in the offense. Freshman Javon Baker is among those who also could see bigger roles.

FACTS & FIGURES

Alabama has won the last 12 meetings since Nick Saban's first year in 2007. Mississippi State hasn't won in Tuscaloosa since 2006. ... The Tide puts its FBS-record 94-game winning streak against unranked teams on the line. ... Leach's Texas Tech team lost to Alabama 13-10 in the Cotton Bowl in January 2006. ... Rogers set a Mississippi State record for completion percentage (83.3) against the Aggies with a minimum of 15 attempts. ... Leach says tailback Kylin Hill remains unavailable and is apparently opting out the rest of the season to prepare for the NFL draft. He hasn't been used much as a runner but did have 23 catches.

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