STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State will play out the rest of its 2026 schedule without the quarterback who sparked its fast start. The school in Starkville, Miss., said Kamario Taylor needs surgery on his foot, a toe injury, and is done for the year.
The program expects the sophomore to make a full recovery and return at 100 percent. Taylor, listed at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, first got hurt in the 31-24 victory over Missouri on Sept. 26. Taylor still suited up against Alabama a week later, missed the trip to LSU on Oct. 17, then returned for Oklahoma last weekend. That comeback ended early, when he pulled up while scrambling on fourth down and headed to the locker room before halftime.
Before the injury he was one of the breakout players in the SEC. He guided the Bulldogs to a 4-0 opening run with road wins at Minnesota and South Carolina. Over six games he hit on 104 of 159 throws for 1,460 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions, and he added 147 rushing yards and a score.
Without him the offense has sputtered. State was shut out at LSU and scored all 15 of its points in the second half after Taylor went to the locker room in the 23-15 loss to Oklahoma. The Bulldogs have dropped three straight and sit at 4-3, 2-3 in league play.
Some help is coming back. Running back Fluff Bothwell, who missed the Oklahoma game, returns this week. He tops the roster in rushing with 514 yards and three scores on 91 attempts.
Next up is a Saturday trip to No. 11 Texas, kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. After that the Bulldogs play three straight games at home, including Vanderbilt and Auburn, their best shot at reaching bowl eligibility.
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