Mississippi State has a real shot to do something it hasn’t done since 2014: open SEC play 2-0. And with No. 21 Missouri coming to Davis Wade Stadium on Sept. 26, the Bulldogs have more than just momentum working for them.
The matchup kicks off at 6:45 p.m. on SEC Network, and Mississippi State enters at 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SEC. Missouri is also unbeaten at 3-0, but the Tigers are still waiting for their first conference game.
For the Bulldogs, a win would mean more than a clean start in league play. It would also give them their first home SEC victory since 2022 and end a 13-game losing streak in those games.
Mississippi State’s offense has already shown it can punch through pressure, even when an opponent slows it down early. South Carolina managed to stall the Bulldogs for a quarter last week, but that only delayed the damage.
Mississippi State still scored 41 points in a comeback win after falling behind 16-0. That kind of firepower looks well-positioned against a Missouri defense that had to rebuild after losing most of its starters from last season, including three All-SEC players.
Missouri comes in off a tighter-than-expected 27-17 win over Troy, a game in which the Tigers gave up two touchdowns of 55-plus yards. Their other wins came against Kansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. That doesn’t exactly scream finished product, especially with the biggest name in the backfield unavailable.
Ahmad Hardy will not play for Missouri as he recovers from a gunshot wound suffered while attending a concert in Laurel in May. That’s a major blow, even with Jamal Roberts stepping in.
Roberts has been productive and is second in the SEC with 300 rushing yards, but he is not Hardy, who was second nationally last season with 1,649 rushing yards. Hardy also hammered Mississippi State last year for 300 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Missouri is still expected to lean on the run game with Roberts while turning to Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons at quarterback. Simmons has been viewed as a quarterback with SEC upside, but the results have been uneven. He played well against Kansas, then followed that with a rough outing against Troy, going 10-for-19 for 91 passing yards and a touchdown.
Mississippi State’s edge starts with Kamario Taylor. The quarterback has been a huge reason the Bulldogs are unbeaten, and his production has been impossible to ignore.
Taylor is tied for second nationally with 11 touchdown passes after throwing for 251 yards and four touchdowns against South Carolina. Mississippi State has not asked him to do much as a runner, but he has been effective when he does take off.
Fluff Bothwell has also given the offense another punch. He ranks fifth in the SEC with 280 rushing yards after back-to-back 100-yard games. That balance gives Mississippi State plenty of ways to stress a Missouri defense that has yet to prove it can hold up for four quarters.
The Bulldogs’ defense has also taken a step forward under new coordinator Zach Arnett. South Carolina still put up 34 points, but 11 of those came in the final four minutes. Earlier in the game, Mississippi State made key red-zone stops that helped fuel the comeback.
There’s also a milestone within reach on special teams. Kicker Kyle Ferrie is six points shy of the program scoring record.
Missouri does have some defensive pieces that could make things interesting. Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez and safety Santana Banner are tied for third in the SEC with 26 tackles apiece, and edge rusher Daeden Hopkins has posted 1.5 sacks in each of his last two games. Simmons has also been protected well, taking only two sacks, which is best in the SEC.
One more wrinkle: DaMarion Fowlkes brought back a punt for a touchdown against Troy, and that means Mississippi State is now facing its third straight opponent that had a punt return touchdown the week before.
As of Sept. 23, Mississippi State lists Diesel Moye, Trevion Williams and Ayden Williams as out, with Zakari Tillman probable. Missouri’s injury report includes JaDon Blair, Malae Fonoti, Ahmad Hardy, Josh Atkins and Gavin Hoffman as out, with Darrius Smith questionable.
The call here leans Mississippi State. Missouri looks like a team still sorting itself out, while the Bulldogs have the cleaner offensive answer in Taylor. A 33-27 Mississippi State win would send the Bulldogs into a massive Week 5 matchup with Alabama riding a 2-0 SEC start.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Just Lost A Former Commit In Florida's Backyard
A former Mississippi State commitment has landed much closer to home, as four-star safety Cyion Smith announced he is headed to Florida for the 2028 season. Smith, an in-state recruit from Blountstown, reopened his recruitment in May before taking a scholarship offer from the Gators, giving Florida a win on a prospect the Bulldogs once had in their class.
The timing only sharpened the spotlight, with Smith's commitment coming on the same day Florida hosted Ole Miss at The Swamp. For Mississippi State, it is another reminder of how quickly recruiting momentum can shift once a prospect starts weighing familiar ground against an SEC offer, and the Bulldogs now have to turn the page on a player who looked like part of their future not long ago. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Already Faces A Kamario Taylor Question Fans Wont Like
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Sabans comment about what he would do in Taylors place was a reminder of how quickly college football can turn into a business conversation in the NIL era, even for a young player still trying to establish himself. Mississippi State now has to navigate not only a demanding schedule but also the possibility that a strong start could invite outside attention, leaving Taylors future as one of the more delicate questions hanging over the season. [Read more 🡒]
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Week 4s fantasy chatter has put a spotlight on Kamario Taylor as Mississippi State keeps sorting out what it can expect from its passing game. Among the weekend projections floating around, Taylors passing-yard total is the one drawing the most attention because it comes with a ceiling that reflects both his recent trend and the challenge of the defense he is set to face.
For the Bulldogs, the bigger question is less about a single prediction and more about what Taylors role looks like as the season settles in. If the matchup plays out the way the numbers suggest, Mississippi State may have to lean on efficiency and balance rather than volume, leaving Taylor in the middle of a debate that could shape how the offense is viewed going forward. [Read more 🡒]