The last time Alabama football’s offense stepped onto Mississippi State’s field, it took Bryce Young and co. six plays and 2:22 to march down and score. It was a tone-setter in the 49-9 win on Oct. 16, 2021, and from the sidelines, Young’s backup Jalen Milroe watched.

Of the many things Milroe learned from Young and is now trying to use in his time as the Tide’s starting quarterback, Milroe “admired” his predecessor’s poise and confidence. This Saturday night, when the Tide return to Starkville, Milroe will try to follow in Young’s footsteps and silence the Bulldog’s trademark cowbells.

“This is the first SEC road game. This is actually a bigger challenge for us than the last two games in my opinion, in terms of this team is very physical, very aggressive on defense, create a lot of negative plays, got a lot of starters back. They know their system. They know their scheme,” Nick Saban said on Monday.

No. 12 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) is currently a double-digit favorite over Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2), according to most sportsbooks. It’s the last time UA will face its most-played opponent until 2025 at the earliest. Due to SEC scheduling, a few different yearly matchups will no longer take place and the one-sided rivalry between the two schools is on pause after this weekend.

A reporter asked Saban to reminisce about the end of UA-MSU and the head coach demurred. Saturday night is another SEC West matchup and a must-win for a Tide team with one loss and a shaky performance in the rearview mirror. Saban’s quarterback echoed the point, stressing Alabama’s preparation.

Mississippi State head coach and elevated defensive coordinator Zach Arnett will set the stage for Milroe’s first conference road game as the starter — Milroe replaced an injured Young against Arkansas and shone with a long touchdown run. The Bulldogs have struggled to stop the pass, allowing teams to gain 280 yards through the air per game.

“I think the key with being a point guard is just doing everything to put our offense in the right form as far as being able to succeed, no matter what it is. Whether it’s handing the ball off, throwing the ball — just being a leader on the field, directing whatever the play may be in the right direction,” Milroe said.

The Bulldogs’ defense ranks 118th (out of 130 Division-I teams) in team passing efficiency, a measure that includes competition percentage, interceptions and yards per attempt. Milroe has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to take the top off the defense, with two more bomb throws to Jermaine Burton and Jalen Hale last weekend.

Three players on Alabama’s roster call Mississippi home and will be making their return to Davis Wade Stadium on the visiting sideline, namely defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis. A former four-star recruit from Columbia (Miss.) High School, Oatis has a lot of Bulldogs fans in his family and gave his honest thoughts on the cowbell tradition in Davis Wade Stadium.

“Those cowbells are annoying, man,” Oatis said. “Them cowbells loud. … But going back there to play, it’s going to be a big, big game.”

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].