Auburn’s search for a transfer portal quarterback just got a lot thinner.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor, who looked like a natural fit for Alex Golesh and Joel Gordon’s veer-and-shoot offense in 2027, is staying put in Starkville. Taylor has re-signed with the Bulldogs, taking him off the board before Auburn could even make a run at him in the portal this coming January.
Taylor is still working back from a severe toe injury that ended his season in October, but Mississippi State clearly sees him as a centerpiece. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Taylor’s deal begins at $7.5 million and can rise above $9 million. His return is being viewed as a major part of the Bulldogs’ offensive plans next season, and Mississippi State is preparing to pour more money into football around him.
“The timing of the signing will allow coach Jeff Lebby to build a recruiting/portal class around Taylor, as the school pitched Taylor on an uptick in overall investment,” Thamel said.
“This deal is expected to be completed later today, per sources. It’s significant for Jeff Lebby for portal/recruiting and roster building.”
“One of the thing we realized is the level of quality players who are intrigued by joining Kamario at Mississippi State,” a source told ESPN.
Taylor wasn’t the only name Auburn had its eye on. Missouri’s Austin Simmons also re-signed with his school, which means the best portal quarterbacks available now may come from messier situations.
That leaves Auburn and other programs looking at a market that may be headed toward Ohio State and Michigan.
Julian Sayin’s season-ending shoulder injury wrecked the Buckeyes’ year, though the situation may also have been shaped by Ryan Day choosing true freshman Luke Fahey over former five-star Ohio native Tavien St. Clair.
St. Clair could be the most likely Ohio State quarterback to hit the portal, and his lack of playing time behind Fahey may have lowered his price.
Michigan presents another possible swing. Bryce Underwood was once an eight-figure investment for LSU and Michigan, but his stock has dropped after a rough 2025 under Chip Lindsey and an even tougher 2026 under Jason Beck.
He still has talent, but it hasn’t shown up at the Big Ten level. He could be the next Jackson Arnold, or he could wind up as a strong fit in a veer-and-shoot system.
For Golesh, it would be worth making the call if he believes Underwood’s processing has room to grow.
For Auburn, the bigger picture is clear: the portal market is getting tighter for quarterbacks who are already playing well. This January, Golesh and company may have to hunt for a hidden gem instead.
In Other News...
Tom Izzo Sends A Clear Message After Michigan State Stuns Duke
Michigan States win over No. 2 Duke in the Champions Classic gave the Spartans an early-season jolt, and Tom Izzo made sure to frame it as more than just a headline result. With his team off to a 3-0 start, the veteran coach spent his postgame media session praising Dukes quality while also crediting his own group for the way it handled the moment, a reminder that this was the kind of November test he has long wanted for his program.
Izzo also touched on individual performances from across the roster, using the night as a snapshot of where Michigan State is and where it still needs to grow. He even nodded to the football teams recent win over Michigan, tying the moment into a bigger stretch of momentum around campus, while leaving the larger question hanging on how far this basketball team can carry that early confidence. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces One Early Test After Its Duke Statement
Michigan State gets right back to work at home after its statement win over Duke, and the early-season buzz around the Spartans has only grown with a 3-0 start and a No. 5 ranking. Northern Iowa arrives with a 2-1 record, giving Tom Izzos team another chance to show that the win over the Blue Devils was not just a one-night surge but part of a real early rhythm.
The matchup also offers a different kind of test, because Michigan State now has to handle the expectations that come with being ranked this high while still sorting out what kind of team it wants to be. Northern Iowa has already shown enough to suggest it can make things uncomfortable, so this is the sort of game that can reveal whether the Spartans are staying sharp or settling in after the Duke high. [Read more 🡒]
Carson Cooper Is Already Fighting For His NBA Role
Carson Coopers pro path has taken another turn, and this one gives him a clearer place to prove he belongs. The former Michigan State center has signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after previously being with the Memphis Grizzlies, setting him up to split time between the NBA roster and the teams G-League affiliate.
For a player trying to carve out a long-term role, the opportunity is as important as the jersey change. Cooper enters a crowded frontcourt as a backup center behind Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney, and he takes the spot vacated when Lawson Lovering was waived to make room for him. [Read more 🡒]