Mississippi State gets the more explosive quarterback in Kamario Taylor, but Minnesota brings the more seasoned hand in Drake Lindsey. That’s the cleanest read in a matchup that starts under center.
Taylor turned heads in Mississippi State’s 62-13 win over Louisiana-Monroe. The true sophomore hit 65% of his passes, a career best, and piled up 354 yards with four touchdowns through the air. He added 59 rushing yards and another score on six carries, giving the Bulldogs a dynamic spark in every phase of the offense.
Lindsey’s case is built on experience. Entering this season as Minnesota’s second-year starter, he already had a full season of production behind him.
Last year, he completed 63.2% of his throws for 2,382 yards and 20 touchdowns. In Minnesota’s 66-0 win over Eastern Illinois, he was sharp again, finishing 79% for 264 yards and a touchdown.
Taylor may own the higher ceiling, but Lindsey has the edge in seasoning. That’s the tradeoff at quarterback in this one.
The Bulldogs’ rushing attack also showed plenty in that lopsided win. Fluff Bothwell entered the season as State’s top returning back and delivered 30 yards on nine carries against ULM. He and Kylin Griffin combined for 60 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, although neither was among the team’s top two rushers in the game.
Freshman J.J. Hill, whose snap count remains uncertain for Saturday, still managed seven catches for 116 yards and a touchdown to open his year.
As a group, Mississippi State totaled 183 rushing yards in Week 1. According to Pro Football Focus, the five starters each had a pass blocking grade of at least 67, but only two posted a run blocking grade over 65.
ULM’s defensive front had its own issues last season, allowing a Big Ten-worst 304.6 rushing yards per game.
Minnesota’s offense had a very different kind of balance. Anthony Evans led the Gophers in receiving yards in a single season in program history, getting off to a strong start with seven catches for 116 yards and a touchdown against Eastern Illinois.
Marcus Johnson, Zion Ragins and Sanfrisco Magee each had at least 35 yards and a touchdown, and as a team the Bulldogs had 178 yards after the catch. Sam West figures to be TE1 for the maroon and white, and Javon Tracy burst onto the scene for the Gophers last Thursday, leading the team with five catches for 68 yards.
On defense, Mississippi State may have to keep Minnesota honest on the ground. The Gophers were third in the SEC and fourth nationally in sacks allowed last season, though they protected Taylor cleanly and helped him to 153 yards of rushing in Week 1. The five starters each had a pass blocking grade of at least 67, but only two were above 65 as run blockers.
Mississippi State’s front seven was stout against Louisiana-Monroe. The Bulldogs allowed just 110 passing yards and one touchdown to start the year.
Safety Isack Smith and cornerback Kelley Jones both posted coverage grades of 60.4 and 53.1, respectively, while Jett Jefferson graded out at 51.9. Smith’s overall defensive grade of 63.3 was the second-best mark on the team.
The secondary remains anchored by cornerback Johnestor, who defended six passes and picked off six more last year, tied for most in the Big Ten. Kerry Brown also returns as a starting safety, while Aidan Gousby joins him. On the other side, Harrison Monroe will start at nickel corner.
Special teams could matter too. Kyle Ferrie was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points in Week 1, continuing a streak of 50 consecutive PATs made dating back to the second game of 2024.
He is also three field goals away from tying the program record for most career field goals, originally set by Artie Cosby in 1966. Ethan Pulliam had just two punts, but they traveled an average of 35.5 yards.
Mississippi State did not return any kicks and has been one short of a return touchdown since the team’s last one. Tracy returned two for 36 and 45 yards.
Minnesota’s kicking battle is less settled. Zakari Tillman, one of the unit’s returning starters, did not play because of an undisclosed injury.
His status for the Minnesota game is in the air. If he cannot go, the Bulldogs will need to lean more on underclassmen Tyler Lockhart and Matt Forrest.
The Golden Gophers’ core is headed by Maverick Baranowski, their defensive green dot, and the fifth-year senior was sixth in the Big Ten with 104 total tackles in 2023 and led the team with six tackles against Eastern Illinois. Matt Kingsbury, Mason Carrier and Emmanuel Garmo are also part of the mix.
In Other News...
Gophers Face An Early Test Their Identity Has To Pass
Minnesota and Mississippi State are set to meet for the first time, and the matchup comes with a little more weight than a typical nonconference date. For the Bulldogs, it is another chance to see what their early-season identity looks like against a Power Five opponent, while the broader Week 2 slate will feed the usual debate about how the Big Ten and SEC stack up when the games start to matter.
Mississippi State enters with momentum after a strong showing from quarterback Kamario Taylor in the opener, and that makes the Bulldogs a different kind of test for a Minnesota team that wants its rushing offense to set the tone. The Gophers ground game will be asked to prove itself against a defense built to make life hard, and the result should say plenty about where both programs stand before September turns into the part of the schedule where early impressions tend to stick. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Finally Gets A Power Test Fans Will Want To See
Mississippi States nonconference schedule is getting a much-needed jolt with a home-and-home series against Minnesota beginning Sept. 12. The opener comes in Minneapolis, with the return trip to Starkville set for 2027, and the matchup checks a key SEC box by giving the Bulldogs a power conference opponent on the slate.
There is also a little added spotlight attached to the series, since the first meeting will air on CBS. For Mississippi State, that means a return to the network it last appeared on in 2020, and a chance for fans to follow a game that should carry a little more weight than the usual nonconference tune-up. [Read more 🡒]