Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor Eyes Upset in LSU Showdown

Mississippi State has emerged as one of the surprise teams of the 2026 college-football season, holding a 4-1 record and a No. 16 ranking in the AP Top 25. The Bulldogs earned victories over UL Monroe, Minnesota, South Carolina and Missouri before a loss to Alabama in Week 5. Their success has placed them in early College Football Playoff discussions—a first for the program in the playoff era.

Newsweek

Quarterback Kamario Taylor, a Macon, Mississippi native and former four-star recruit, has posted a 66.2 % completion rate for 1,450 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding 159 rushing yards. Taylor, who was the No. 8 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class, said he intends to “ruin LSU’s night” after the Tigers recruited him as a safety rather than a quarterback and were his childhood favorite team. The perceived recruiting slight is cited as an added source of motivation heading into the matchup.

Newsweek

LSU, coached by Lane Kiffin, enters the contest with a 4-2 record after a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky and a defeat by Ole Miss. The Tigers are double-digit favorites, but recent setbacks have left them vulnerable. A strong performance by Taylor could keep Mississippi State in the national conversation and potentially disrupt LSU’s season trajectory.

Newsweek

Taylor’s comments to 247Sports reflect his personal drive to outperform LSU, while Mississippi State’s coaching staff has highlighted the quarterback’s dual-threat ability as a key factor in their game plan. LSU’s camp has not publicly addressed Taylor’s remarks, focusing instead on preparing for the “tough environment of Death Valley.”

Newsweek

The upcoming Saturday noon kickoff at Tiger Stadium will test whether Taylor’s extra motivation translates into a decisive Bulldogs victory, with broader implications for both teams’ playoff aspirations.

Newsweek