Mississippi State enters its Saturday matchup against No. 11 Texas in Austin grappling with a stark identity crisis. After a blistering 4-0 start that positioned the Bulldogs as one of college football’s biggest surprises, the team has plummeted into a three-game skid following the loss of star quarterback Kamario Taylor to a season-ending toe injury, as reported by Burnt Orange Nation.
The drop-off isn’t just a trend; it’s a statistical cliff. In the first four games of the season, the Bulldogs’ offense averaged 43.0 points per game. Since Taylor’s injury, that number has cratered to a measly 12.67 points per game. For a team built on explosive tempo, the loss of their primary engine has turned a high-powered attack into a struggling unit that can no longer piece together successful drives.
A Quarterback Competition Under Pressure
With Taylor out, head coach Jeff Lebby is facing a high-stakes decision at the most critical position on the field. Redshirt freshman Billy Puckett has handled the reins for the last two games, showing flashes of the mobility and arm talent required to run Lebby’s “veer and shoot” system. In those starts, Puckett completed 33 of 50 passes (66%) for one touchdown and two interceptions, while adding 77 rushing yards on 18 carries.
However, Puckett’s youth has come with volatility, including a fumble last week against Oklahoma. This has opened the door for AJ Swann, a veteran who started 12 games for Vanderbilt in 2022 and 2023 before a six-game stint as a starter at Appalachian State last season. Lebby has noted that Swann brings a level of maturity to the room that the team lacks without Taylor, specifically regarding ball security.
“Swann’s maturity gives us something that we don’t have in that room without Kamario. So for me, that’s a huge piece of it. Being able to take care of the ball will be a huge piece of it,” Lebby said.
The decision between Puckett’s ceiling and Swann’s floor will be made as the team nears kickoff in Austin. For Mississippi State, the “so what” is simple: if they cannot protect the football against a suffocating Texas defense, the game could be decided by the second quarter.
The Bulldogs are headed to Texas, and so are we! 🐶If you're making the trip to Austin, get your tickets now for our Road Dawgs Tailgate just steps from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.📍 AT&T Hotel and Conference Center📅 10/31 • 3-5:30 p.m.🎟️ https://t.co/18ILrlQmVp pic.twitter.com/yJOKk8IQ4u
The Heavy Lifting of Fluff Bothwell
While the quarterback situation is in flux, the Bulldogs still possess a legitimate weapon in junior running back Fluff Bothwell. Despite battling ankle issues throughout the year, Bothwell has been a force whenever healthy. In his last four games with meaningful playing time, he has surpassed 100 yards in every single contest and recorded four total touchdowns.
At 5’10” and 230 pounds, Bothwell provides the physical interior presence that Lebby’s offense needs to keep Texas honest. His performance last week against Oklahoma—111 yards on 17 carries (6.5 YPC)—proves he can still punish defenses. He is supported by Kolin Wilson, who has 218 yards on 54 carries this season, and depth pieces Xavier Gayten and J.J. Hill.
The strategy for the Bulldogs is clear: use Bothwell to exploit light boxes and lean on the run-heavy philosophy that defines the veer and shoot. Evans leads the SEC in catches and ranks second in yards per game, having already recorded 53 receptions for 647 yards and five touchdowns.
An Offensive Line in Crisis
The biggest hurdle for Mississippi State isn’t the playbook or the talent at receiver—it’s the protection. The offensive line has struggled significantly after a rebuilding phase in the offseason, plagued by misses in the transfer portal.
Against LSU, the Bulldogs’ quarterback was pressured 11 times and sacked five times. The offensive line, including Miles McVay, has been a struggle for the unit as they prepare to face Texas.
| Offensive Metric | With Kamario Taylor (First 4 Games) | Without Kamario Taylor (Last 3 Games) |
|---|---|---|
| Average Points Per Game | 43.0 | 12.67 |
| Recent Result (vs Oklahoma) | N/A | Bothwell: 111 yards / 4 Sacks Allowed |
Mississippi State Struggles to Stop the Air Attack
On the other side of the ball, Lebby brought back Zach Arnett to revamp a defense that finished dead last in the conference last year. The results have been a mixed bag.
“A heck of a challenge”Texas HC Steve Sarkisian breaks down Mississippi State ahead of the Horns matchup against the Bulldogs. 🤘 pic.twitter.com/YUd6s2000h
Mississippi State employs a 3-3-5 scheme that places immense pressure on the defensive line. Former Longhorn Jaray Bledsoe has been the standout in the middle, leading the team with 2.5 sacks and contributing 22 tackles. However, the secondary’s struggle to stop the air attack is a glaring weakness that Texas is likely to exploit.
The Bulldogs are essentially fighting two battles on Saturday: one to find a stable rhythm at quarterback and another to prevent their offensive line from collapsing. They have the weapons in Bothwell and Evans to score, but without a cohesive pocket, those weapons may never get the chance to touch the ball.
Mississippi State Bulldogs to watch vs. Texas: Bothwell, Bledsoe📸 Wesley Hale, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect https://t.co/I0wNXiFdTU pic.twitter.com/4ILRpDboBr
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