Mississippi State, Arizona look to follow up lopsided wins in matchup of Pac-12, SEC teams

Arizona (1-0) at Mississippi State (1-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC)

Line: Mississippi State by 9 1/2 according to FanDuel.com Sportsbook.

Series: Mississippi State leads 1-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Both schools aim to follow up dominant opening wins over FCS opponents. Arizona routed Northern Arizona 38-3 and looks to avenge last year’s 39-17 loss to the Bulldogs. Mississippi State blew out Southeastern Louisiana 48-7.

KEY MATCHUP

Arizona quarterback Jayden De Laura vs. Mississippi State’s pass defense. The junior passed for 285 yards and three touchdowns and dashed 53 yards for another score against NAU. De Laura has 7,352 career yards passing and 56 touchdowns between Arizona and Washington State. The Bulldogs’ defense started strong for first-year coordinator Matt Brock, holding SLU to just 125 yards passing and 208 overall. They rank 15th nationally. Linebackers Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson continued their stifling play with 14 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles with a recovery.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Arizona senior receiver Jacob Cowing had a 4-yard touchdown among three catches last week to extend his streak with at least one reception to 45 games, the nation’s longest active. He was selected to The Associated Press preseason All-American second team after leading the Pac-12 with 85 receptions for 1,034 yards (fourth) and seven TDs (second) last season.

Mississippi State’s Jo’Quavious Marks rushed for a career-best 127 yards and two touchdowns, the first Bulldogs running back to break the century mark since Kylin Hill's 137 against Mississippi in November 2019. He also caught four passes for 59 yards. His 195 career receptions are just five shy of breaking MSU’s school record.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Arizona is 1-6-1 all-time against the SEC. ... Tacario Davis returned Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei’s blocked field goal 85 yards for a touchdown against NAU, the Wildcats’ first return since 2002 and the Pac-12's longest since at least 1996. ... The three points allowed marked Arizona's fewest since topping California 10-3 in 2021. ... Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers needs 32 yards to surpass Kentucky’s Jared Lorenzen (10,637) for 10th on the SEC’s total yardage list. ... MSU ranks 18th nationally in scoring. ... The Bulldogs converted four red zone chances for 24 points, including a blocked punt returned for a TD. ... The Bulldogs committed just one penalty against SLU, its fewest since October 2018 against Auburn.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll