Mississippi State’s season took a major hit Wednesday when the school announced quarterback Kamario Taylor will miss the rest of 2026 because of a toe injury that requires surgery.
Taylor had already battled through the issue for weeks. His injury first surfaced after the win over Missouri, where he was one of the early breakout stars in college football while helping push Mississippi State into the top 25 with big performances against Minnesota, South Carolina and Missouri. He tried to keep going against Alabama, then sat out the Bulldogs’ loss to LSU.
He gave it another shot against Oklahoma last week, but the comeback lasted only until the first half. After pulling up on a fourth-down scramble, Taylor headed to the locker room and did not return.
In a statement, Taylor said: "Over the last few weeks, I've worked every day with our medical staff and done everything possible to be out there with my teammates," Taylor said in a statement. "Missing the rest of the season is hard to accept, but I know God has a plan.
"I love this team and I love Mississippi State. ... There's a lot of football left, and I'm all in with my guys. Starkville is home, and I can't wait to be back playing the game I love."
The loss leaves Mississippi State in a tough spot offensively. The Bulldogs are 4-3 with four SEC games still ahead, and bowl eligibility is far from settled with their star quarterback sidelined for good this season.
That reality became clear in recent weeks. After being shut out by LSU, Mississippi State managed just 15 points against Oklahoma, and all of those came after Taylor left the game. Parker Puckett now takes over at quarterback and inherits a big job, with Taylor’s playmaking leaving a massive void.
There is at least a boost coming elsewhere in the offense. Running back Fluff Bothwell is back this week after missing the Oklahoma game with an injury of his own. He leads the Bulldogs with 91 carries, 514 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and Mississippi State is expected to lean on him more to ease the burden on Puckett.
The schedule still gives the Bulldogs a path, but not much margin for error. They travel to No. 11 Texas this week, then return home for three straight games against Vanderbilt, Auburn and Tennessee Tech before closing with a trip to Oxford for the Egg Bowl on Black Friday.
For Taylor, the focus shifts to 2027. He’ll enter that season with Heisman and NFL Draft buzz, and the next step is getting healthy and building toward a full campaign in a pivotal year. Even with the missed time, he still leads the SEC with 17 touchdown passes, and his size and arm talent keep scouts looking his way.
A full season on tape next year could put him in position to be one of the top prospects for the 2028 NFL Draft, though that won’t come easy. Opponents will spend more time building plans around him now than they may have early this season.
Mississippi State will also have work to do to keep him in Starkville. Quarterback-needy programs are expected to make aggressive pitches, but Taylor has said he wants to stay with the Bulldogs.
If the program can keep him, it will also have to keep building around him. Retaining Bothwell would help, and upgrading the wide receiver room and offensive line will be part of the offseason agenda for coach Jeff Lebby and the Bulldogs’ personnel staff.
Mississippi State understands the value of having a special quarterback in his prime. The Dak Prescott era remains the program’s high-water mark this century, and Taylor has the kind of talent that can reshape a program. Now the Bulldogs have to make the most of it in 2027.
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For Oklahoma, the immediate concern is up front, where the Sooners are still sorting through an offensive line situation that will be under the microscope against one of the SECs most disruptive young defenders. South Carolina coaches pointed to edge rusher Dylan Stewart as a player who can change the tone of a game, and Oklahomas staff knows that kind of pressure can decide whether a rhythm offense ever gets settled. In a game with momentum on the line for both sides, that front-five battle may end up defining the afternoon. [Read more 🡒]