The 24th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs are absolutely rolling, sitting at a perfect 3-0 to kick off the college football season, and somehow, they are already first in the SEC. Think about that for a second. This is a team that finished last season with a tough 5-8 record. Now? They’re way, way ahead of where anyone could have possibly expected them to be at this point. That gritty comeback win on Saturday proved it, too. They rolled into the South Carolina game as four-point underdogs, got punched in the mouth early trailing 16-0, but they showed an insane level of resiliency. They stormed back, and that kind of fight should have every future opponent nervous.
Kamario Taylor Is Putting Up Numbers That Will Make Your Jaw Drop
Leading the charge for these red-hot Bulldogs is their 19-year-old phenom at quarterback, Kamario Taylor. Seriously, this kid is putting on an absolute clinic in the early going. Against South Carolina, he was electric, throwing for 251 yards and carving up the defense with three touchdowns. He was super efficient too, completing 18-of-26 pass attempts. But Taylor isn’t just a pocket passer; he’s a true dual-threat monster. He added eight carries for 33 yards on the ground in that same game. His ability to move around like a running back but still sling the ball deep downfield is a nightmare for defensive coordinators to handle. He is comfortable escaping pressure and making plays, and that makes this Bulldogs offense terrifying.
Taylor’s season-long numbers are just ridiculous for a player so young in arguably the toughest conference in college football. He has already piled up 832 passing yards, tossed 11 touchdowns, and get this, he only has one interception through three games. That gives him an 88.9 passer rating, which is the sixth-best in the entire nation. On the ground, he’s added another 178 yards on 26 carries and tacked on another rushing score. This kid is making plays all over the field, period, and he’s the engine driving this Bulldogs team.
It’s A Total Team Effort, And The Defense Is Legit
While Taylor’s heroics grab the headlines, he’s far from the only weapon on this squad. Running back Fluff Bothwell has been an absolute beast, just hammering defenses. He’s ripped off over 200 yards rushing in the last two weeks alone, averaging a stout 5.8 yards per carry. He runs downhill with power, and he’s tough to bring down. Out in space, Anthony Evans III is a serious problem for opposing defensive backs. He’s found the end zone with a receiving touchdown in all three games this season and is already just shy of 300 yards receiving. This offense has so many different ways to hurt you, it’s hard to stop.
And then there’s the defense! Head Coach Jeff Lebby couldn’t say enough good things about his undefeated team, praising them for staying together and responding in a great way. He specifically highlighted how critical the defense was early against South Carolina, keeping them in the game and forcing field goals instead of letting them score touchdowns. That Dawg defense came up huge with two timely interceptions against South Carolina, which was absolutely the difference-maker. A week earlier, they completely shut down Minnesota, not allowing a single touchdown all game. This defense is absolutely for real, and a massive reason for their early success.
Mississippi State is flying high right now, but a brutal SEC conference schedule is looming. Can they continue this incredible early success? Can they handle more adversity when it comes? Their first true monster test is this Saturday at home against the 19th-ranked Missouri Tigers, kicking off at 7:45 p.m. ET. You absolutely do not want to miss this one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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