Mississippi State’s recent slide hasn’t knocked Kamario Taylor out of the national spotlight.
The Bulldogs quarterback checked in at No. 7 in On3’s latest Heisman Trophy poll, a sign that his early-season burst still carries real weight even after an injury kept him out of Mississippi State’s shutout loss to LSU. With the Bulldogs staring down a home game against Oklahoma after back-to-back defeats, Taylor’s return could shape more than just the Heisman picture.
Taylor’s numbers through five games are loud: 1,450 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has thrown at least three touchdown passes in every game he has played, which is a big reason he’s been one of the SEC’s most productive quarterbacks so far.
His fast start powered Mississippi State to four straight wins, including two road victories over Power Four opponents. That early run pushed Taylor into the Heisman mix and gave the Bulldogs a jolt of momentum few expected.
He also carved out a place in the record book early in the year, becoming the first Mississippi State quarterback in digitally available records dating to 1985 to post at least 17 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown over the opening three games of a season.
The injury has complicated that surge. Taylor suffered turf toe in Mississippi State’s comeback win over Missouri in Week Four, then played through it against Alabama the next week before the Bulldogs fell 56-23. He did not make it back onto the field for the LSU game.
In his absence, the offense sputtered badly. Redshirt freshman Billy Puckett completed 121 passing yards and finished with an interception and a fumble in the 31-0 loss.
That result gave Mississippi State its second straight defeat after a 4-0 start and left the team trying to regroup. For Taylor, the missed time matters in a Heisman race where other contenders will keep piling up production while he recovers.
If he’s cleared to play against Oklahoma, that matchup offers a chance to reset the conversation. A strong showing against a quality opponent would give Taylor another platform to reinforce why he entered the season as a serious contender, while also giving the Bulldogs a shot to snap their skid.
Taylor has already shown he can produce at a high level. Now the next stretch will determine how much of that early-season momentum he can hold onto.
In Other News...
Mississippi States Halloween Trip To Texas Just Got More Real
Mississippi States trip to Austin for Week 9 now has a little more shape to it. The Bulldogs will face Texas on Halloween night, adding another spotlight game to a stretch that also includes a home date with Oklahoma and the Egg Bowl at Ole Miss, and it will be one of the more prominent SEC matchups on the league calendar.
The timing only sharpens the intrigue around a series that has already taken on some familiarity, with Texas and Mississippi State meeting in each of the last three seasons since the Longhorns joined the SEC. For the Bulldogs, it is another chance to measure themselves against a conference heavyweight on a night when the stakes, the setting and the television audience all line up. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State's Oklahoma Hopes Ride On One Crucial Week 8 Decision
Mississippi State heads into Week 8 trying to steady itself after consecutive losses, and the quarterback situation has become the biggest storyline around a game that already feels pivotal. Kamario Taylor has been dealing with a turf toe injury, leaving the Bulldogs with a real question at the most important position as they prepare to face Oklahoma.
The matchup looks winnable on paper if Mississippi State can get stability under center, especially against an Oklahoma team that has leaned on a strong defense while searching for more consistency on offense. John Mateer has given the Sooners plenty of both promise and frustration with turnovers, but for Mississippi State, the larger concern remains whether Taylor is ready to go, because his availability could shape everything about how this game unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Jaray Bledsoe Is Giving Mississippi State Fans A Real SEC Debate
Jaray Bledsoe has given Mississippi State something it badly needs up front: a veteran defensive tackle with real SEC-level traits and enough early-season production to make people look twice. The fifth-year lineman has flashed the kind of power and burst that can disrupt a backfield, and his presence has stood out for a defense that has had its share of rough stretches.
For Bulldogs fans, the bigger question is how far that early impact can carry him in a conference full of proven interior linemen. Bledsoe still has work to do before he can be viewed as one of the SECs elite defensive tackles, but his combination of experience and playmaking has already put him in the conversation. The rest of the season will go a long way toward deciding whether that conversation gets louder. [Read more 🡒]