Mississippi State and Oklahoma will meet for the first time Saturday afternoon in Starkville, and both teams are walking into the SEC matchup with big questions at quarterback.
For Mississippi State, the issue is health. Kamario Taylor has put together an excellent season, throwing 17 touchdown passes against just four interceptions, but he sat out last week’s 31-0 loss to then-No.
22 LSU because of a foot injury. Bulldogs coach Jeff Lebby did not offer much beyond that when asked about Taylor on Monday.
"He didn't wake up yesterday morning and was healed," Lebby said at his Monday press conference. "It's going to be day-to-day. He's got a lot of work to do, but we'll see where we end up."
Freshman Billy Puckett started in Taylor’s place against LSU and had a rough outing, finishing with 121 passing yards, no touchdowns and one interception. If Taylor can’t go again, Puckett would be tasked with facing an Oklahoma defense that has been one of the nation’s best at limiting yardage. The Sooners rank No. 5 nationally in average yards allowed per game at 260.7.
Oklahoma’s problem is different. John Mateer has battled turnover issues, throwing three interceptions in last Saturday’s 21-13 home loss to then-No.
15 Kentucky. That pushed his season total to seven picks in six games, and the Sooners are now minus-8 in turnover margin.
"We have to eliminate backbreaking errors, catastrophic errors," offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. "For all the good that he (Mateer) does, we have to eliminate those.
He's not alone in that. I take full responsibility for those plays, whenever they happen."
The Sooners have alternated wins and losses all season and enter at 3-3 overall, 1-2 in the SEC. Mississippi State is 4-2 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
The Bulldogs also have two former Sooners on the roster in wide receiver Zion Ragins and defensive back Kendel Dolby. Ragins has 12 catches for 188 yards this season, and Dolby has 27 tackles.
Saturday’s game in Starkville will be the first meeting ever between the two programs.
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Mississippi State Has A Real Opening But One Question Looms
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