Mississippi State University football is heading out west to Tucson, Arizona, for a Pac-12 after-dark matchup against the University of Arizona Wildcats Saturday. 
While this is the first time the Bulldogs and Wildcats are meeting, both teams are coming off of impressive performances against their respective week one opponents.
Arizona’s performance this past weekend earned quarterback Jayden de Laura Offensive Pac-12 Player of the Week, while defensive end Jalen Harris earned Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week. 
If MSU wants to walk out of the desert with a win against the Wildcats, Zach Arnett’s defense will have to find a way to contain De Laura. As Arizona’s signal-caller, De Laura is 6-0 when he throws three or more touchdowns a game. De Laura performed well in week one against San Diego State, as he threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Wildcats to a 38-20 win over the Aztecs. 
One of De Laura’s main targets is transfer wide receiver Jacob Cowing. He hauled in three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ season opener. Cowing had a career performance during his first game — recording eight catches for 152 yards in addition to his three touchdown grabs. 
MSU had a striking performance against the University of Memphis this past Saturday. MSU quarterback Will Rogers could be a problem for the Wildcat defense. Rogers went 38 of 49 for 450 passing yards, scored five touchdowns and had 58 completions. The gunslinger broke many school records and was named Manning Award Star of the Week, while also earning a spot on the Davey O’Brien Davey Double list.
One of Rogers’ main targets is sophomore wide out Rara Thomas. Thomas also had an impressive performance against the Tigers, as he hauled in five receptions for 81 receiving yards while notching the first touchdown of the Bulldogs’ 2022 season onto his resume.
Penalties and time of possession are key components in this matchup between the Wildcats and Bulldogs. Although MSU had a total of five penalties against Memphis last week, those penalties totaled 55 yards, while the Wildcats totaled four penalties for only 35 yards.
The battle out west between Arizona and MSU should be an intense matchup since both teams had huge wins and are filled with talent. The Bulldogs will make the 1,500-mile journey to face-off against the Wildcats Saturday at 10 p.m. Central in Tucson, Arizona. FS1 is airing the game.