Mississippi State’s season just took a gut punch, fam. Starting quarterback Kamrio Taylor, the absolute breakout star, is not looking promising to play this Saturday after suffering a foot injury against Alabama back on October 3. The injury apparently messed with his running ability, and now the No. 16 Bulldogs are heading into Death Valley to square off against the No. 22 Tigers, potentially without their Heisman-caliber signal-caller. Playing on the road in the SEC is brutal enough, but without your starting QB? That’s just unfathomable, and it could send the Bulldogs plummeting out of the Top 25.
Taylor’s Absence: A Game Changer for the Bulldogs
This isn’t just any backup stepping in. Taylor has been the heart and soul of the Bulldogs’ 4-1 (2-1 SEC) start. His numbers are straight-up insane: he’s completed 66.2% of his passes for 1,450 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air. On the ground, he’s added another 159 yards and a touchdown on 43 carries. Lane Kiffin, who faced Taylor last year, knows exactly how dangerous this sophomore is. Kiffin said, “He’s perfect. Really a problem in both areas when he’s healthy and is able to run the ball. We just played him last year when we were at and he really, you know, made some perfect plays, especially late in the game when he starts running around.” Kiffin also gave a shout-out to the jump Taylor made from year one to year two, crediting head coach Jeff Lebby for running a “very college quarterback-friendly” system. Without Taylor, a win is looking seriously unlikely, and that Top 25 ranking could vanish.
Who Steps Up and What It Means for LSU
So, who’s gonna be under center? Parker Pocket took over after Taylor got hurt against Alabama, but Jeff Lebby hasn’t announced a starter if his star QB can’t go. This entire situation is a gift for LSU. The Tigers haven’t had the season they imagined after bringing in Kiffin, especially after getting upset by Kentucky in overtime last week. A Mississippi State team without Kamrio Taylor is a prime opportunity for LSU to finally get back on track and, let’s be real, give that CFP resume a much-needed boost.
It all goes down Saturday, October 17, at 12 p.m. ET. For Mississippi State, this isn’t just one game; it’s about holding onto that Top 25 spot and proving they can still hang without their biggest star. For LSU, it’s a huge opportunity to turn their season around and get that CFP resume looking right. Big game ahead, y’all!
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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