Kamario Taylor is headed back to Mississippi State in 2027, and the price tag is massive.
According to On3Sports, the Bulldogs star quarterback is close to finalizing a new deal that will keep him in Starkville and make him one of the sport’s highest-paid players. Per On3’s Chris Low and Pete Nakos, the agreement is worth $7.5 million per year and could climb to $9 million with incentives.
Taylor’s return comes after a 2026 season that started with real Heisman buzz and ended with surgery. He opened the year as Mississippi State’s full-time starter and ripped through the first month, throwing for 1,192 yards with 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions as the Bulldogs beat Louisiana-Monroe, Minnesota on the road, South Carolina and then-No. 19 Missouri.
That win over Missouri pushed Mississippi State to 16th in the country and put Taylor in the national spotlight as a dark horse Heisman candidate. He also suffered a turf toe injury in that game, though he stayed on the field.
Things got worse from there. In Mississippi State’s 56-23 loss to Alabama, Taylor played through the injury, was sacked five times, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble early.
He was pulled in the fourth quarter and did not return. He then missed the Oct. 17 game at LSU and tried to go the following week against Oklahoma, but backup Billy Parker Puckett took over in the 23-14 loss.
On Oct. 27, the school announced Taylor would undergo season-ending surgery on his toe. ESPN reported that he pushed to keep playing, but getting healthy enough to be effective was the priority.
"Nobody wants to be on that field more than Kamario," Bulldog head coach Jeff Lebby said via ESPN. "I know how much this team means to him, and how much he means to this team. We’ll be right there with him throughout his recovery.
"He’s the ultimate teammate and competitor. ... You see it in the work he’s put in and the way our players and coaches believe in him the way they do."
Taylor’s injury has had a clear impact on Mississippi State. Since he went down against Missouri, the Bulldogs have lost five straight.
The return is also a major win for Mississippi State’s efforts to keep its star in place. Taylor, a Macon, Mississippi native and lifelong Bulldogs fan, had drawn speculation about a possible portal move after his hot start. Instead, the school appears to have locked him in with a deal that brings serious money and serious stability.
Taylor’s numbers show how far he’s come in a short time. In 2025, he completed 55.8% of his passes for 629 yards, five touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for 458 yards and eight scores. In 2026, before the injury, he was up to 65.4% completions, 1,460 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions, plus 147 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Mississippi State now gets Taylor back in 2027 with hopes of delivering a winning season in Starkville for the first time under Jeff Lebby.
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