Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor Ruled Out for Clash with Depleted Texas Longhorns

Dynamic Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season due to a toe injury that requires surgery.

The injury announcement comes days ahead of the Bulldogs' trip to Austin to face the No. 11 Texas Longhorns on Halloween night.

Taylor is expected to make a full recovery, according to the university's release. The sophomore gunslinger is in the midst of a breakout season and is thought to be a top quarterback prospect in the 2028 NFL Draft cycle.

"Over the last few weeks, I've worked every day with our medical staff and done everything possible to be out there with my teammates," Taylor said in a statement this week. "Missing the rest of this season is hard to accept, but I know God has a plan.

"... My role will look different these next few weeks, but my commitment to this team won't change. I'll do whatever I can to help my brothers down the stretch."

Taylor first sustained the injury on Sept. 26, then missed one game in between grinding through games against Alabama and Oklahoma.

The Bulldogs surged to a 4-0 start under Taylor's strong season. The Macon, Miss. native ends the season with 1,460 yards, 17 passing touchdowns and four interceptions.

Taylor threw for three touchdowns and 360 yards against Missouri when he first injured his toe. Most recently, Taylor completed just two of five passes against the Sooners in Mississippi State's third straight loss.

READ MORE: Texas' Unsung Heroes Deliver Huge Win Over Ole Miss

The Longhorns enter this weekend with injury troubles of their own. Edge rusher Colin Simmons is expected to miss his second full game after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the loss to Florida. Opposite of Simmons is former 5-star recruit Richard Wesley, who was also out with an ankle injury that could sideline him for the year.

Texas was able to overcome the absences on the defensive line and starting running back Hollywood Smothers (shoulder) to upset No. 7 Ole Miss, 34-27 on Saturday.

However, Arch Manning's top protector, star left tackle Trevor Goosby, went down with a knee injury in the first quarter against the Rebels. Goosby, a top NFL Draft prospect this upcoming spring, will be out for the rest of the season. Then there's Manning's top target, Cam Coleman, who left the game with a shoulder injury and did not return.

Manning underperformed in the second half after Texas had built a 24-3 halftime lead, but wound up finishing with 212 passing yards and a touchdown.

"One thing I know about Arch Manning, he's a fighter," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said postgame. "I like the edgy, kind of borderline arrogant, full-of-swagger Arch. I just feel like that's when he's at his best."

The rest of the Longhorns (5-2) will need to carry that type of moxie into each game the rest of the way, beginning with a matchup against the equally-short-handed Bulldogs in Austin.