LSU’s push to rebound this weekend comes with a familiar pregame storyline: the injury report, and especially the status of Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor.
Taylor remains the headline item after being listed as questionable on the initial conference report Wednesday night. His availability Friday could shape the entire matchup after he picked up an injury against Alabama on Oct. 3 and hasn’t practiced fully since then because of a foot issue.
LSU’s own report didn’t bring any big surprises. The Tigers listed tight end Trey'Dez Green, linebacker Whit Weeks, safety Dashawn Spears, wide receiver Phillip Wright III, and linebacker Charles Ross II as out. Linebacker Tylen Singleton was listed as questionable.
That Singleton designation matters for LSU depth. Davhon Keys has been the starter, but Singleton is expected to play too. He was limited to just three snaps last week, and the Tigers will be hoping he can bounce back in time to help the linebacker group.
For Mississippi State, the initial report also included linebacker Jalen Smith, wide receiver Ayden Williams, defensive linemen Trevion Williamson and Diesel Moye as out. Linebacker Zakari Tillman was doubtful, while Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell were questionable.
Taylor’s status looms especially large because he has been one of the most electric quarterbacks in the country, and Mississippi State doesn’t appear to have a strong backup answer. If Taylor can’t go, redshirt freshman walk-on Parker Puckett would likely be next up.
That uncertainty is one reason LSU is favored by more than two touchdowns, with the line having moved since it first opened.
Bothwell is another key name to watch. He also was injured against Alabama and brings 5.4 yards per carry into the game after three straight outings with at least 100 rushing yards. Mississippi State’s backups managed just 37 yards on 20 carries last week, so his availability could matter just as much for the Bulldogs’ offense.
In Other News...
LSUs Biggest Problem Just Got Harder To Ignore After Kentucky
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Sam Leavitts night summed up the frustration. He moved the ball well enough through the air to keep LSU in it, but the late turnovers ended up carrying too much weight in a game the Tigers could not afford to let slip away. With the schedule about to get less forgiving, the question is no longer whether LSU has playmakers, but whether it can clean up the mistakes before they start defining the season. [Read more 🡒]
LSU's Bigger Worry After This Win Is Hard To Ignore
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Bashir poured in 26 points and Dent added 21 points with 11 assists, a reminder that LSU has firepower at the top of the rotation even before the real games begin. Wade is still waiting on additional help to get cleared in time for the regular season opener on November 3, and that uncertainty hangs over an early stretch that should tell a lot about how quickly this team can settle in. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Showed Promise But One Late Issue Still Looks Costly
UCFs trip to Baton Rouge offered a useful early look at where the Knights stand, and for long stretches they matched LSU possession for possession in an exhibition that felt more like a real-season test than a tuneup. Dior Johnson led UCF with 18 points, while LSU got a big scoring night from Abdi Bashir, who finished with 26, as both teams played a competitive game at Maravich Assembly Center.
The final minutes, though, exposed the kind of late-game detail that can decide close contests once the results start counting. UCF had pulled even at 81, only for LSU to regain control in the closing seconds and finish the job, leaving the Knights with encouraging signs and a reminder that execution under pressure still has to sharpen before the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]