Mississippi State Football Summer Series: Previewing Texas A&M and Southern Mississippi

STARKVILLE, MS - October 01, 2022 - Mississippi State Linebacker Jett Johnson (#44) during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville, MS. Photo By Kevin Snyder NOTE: This series will preview each of Mississippi State’s football’s 12 games ahead of the 2023-24 football season STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football summer series rolls on, previewing the Bulldogs’ 10th and 11th games against Texas A&M and Southern Mississippi, respectively. The Bulldogs have taken control of their Southeastern Conference series against the Aggies, winning the last two matchups. MSU will play one final non-conference game against the Golden Eagles before its regular season finale against Ole Miss on Thanksgiving. Here is what to know about the Aggies and Golden Eagles Game: Mississippi State at Texas A&M When: Nov. 11 Where: Kyle Field, College Station Time/TV: Yet to be announced Series History: Mississippi State leads the all-time series, 8-7, including winning last year’s matchup in Starkville, 42-24. Bulldog quarterback Will Rogers threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns in the win, one to Rara Thomas, Rufus Harvey and Caleb Ducking. Dillon Johnson also rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown on four carries. Texas A&M’s 2022 season: Texas A&M opened the 2022 season winning three of its first four games (losing at home to Appalachian State) but stumbled to a 5-7 finish, dropping six of its final eight games. The Aggies’ wins came against Sam Houston State, Miami (FL), Arkansas, UMass and LSU. Texas A&M finished the 2022 season ranked 101st in scoring offense at 22.8 points per game and 22nd in scoring defense, allowing 20.6 points per game. Coaches: Head Coach Jimbo Fisher (sixth season), Offensive Coordinator Bobby Petrino (first season), Defensive Coordinator D.J. Durkin (second season) Texas A&M players to know Conner Weigman, QB: Weigman split time at QB last season with Haynes King. King is now at Georgia Tech, making Weigman the guy this season in College Station. Weigman threw for 896 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions in 2022. He also added 97 rushing yards on 27 carries. Reuben Owens, RB: The Aggies will be looking for a new starting running back this season after Devon Achane, a 1,000-yard rusher, was picked by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the NFL Draft. Owens is an incoming freshman five-star recruit. Evan Stewart, WR: Evan Stewart, A&M’s leading returning receiver, led all SEC freshmen last season at 65 receiving yards per game. He finished 2022 with 649 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 53 catches. Demani Richardson, CB: Texas A&M’s leading tackler in 2022 returns after tallying 73 tackles, five pass deflections, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 2022. — Game: Southern Mississippi at Mississippi State When: Nov. 18 Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville Time/TV: 11 a.m., SEC+ Series History: Mississippi State leads the all-time series, 15-14-1, including the last meeting in 2019, where the Bulldogs won, 38-15. MSU quarterback Tommy Stevens threw for 105 yards and two scores, one to Osirus Mitchell and Stephen Guidry, while the Bulldogs rushed for three scores, one from Kylin Hill, Lee Witherspoon and Nick Gibson. Southern Miss’s 2022 schedule: The Golden Eagles finished the regular season 6-6 before beating Rice, 38-24, in the LendingTree Bowl. USM’s other wins came against Northwestern State, Tulane, Arkansas State, Texas State, Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe. USM finished the 2022 season ranked 86th in scoring offense, averaging 25.3 points per game and 45th in scoring defense, allowing 23.5 points per game. Coaches: Head Coach Will Hall (second season), Offensive Coordinator Sam Gregg (second season), Defensive Coordinator Austin Armstrong (second season). Southern Miss players to know: Frank Gore Jr, RB.: Gore Jr. did it all for USM in 2022. He completed eight passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns. He ran for 1,382 yards and nine touchdowns on 228 carries, and also caught 19 passes for 219 yards. Jakarius Caston, WR: Caston returns as USM’s leading receiver after Jason Brownlee, who scored eight touchdowns in 2022, is now with the New York Jets. Caston tallied 446 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 31 catches last season. Jay Stanley, S: Stanley was USM’s best secondary member last season, tallying 61 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, seven pass deflections, five interceptions, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Justin Frommer is the Mississippi State sports reporter for The Dispatch.