Mississippi State football enters the Egg Bowl against the No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels in Starkville one win away from bowl-eligibility. And with the postseason on the line, head coach Jeff Lebby has made an unexpected shake-up to his starting lineup. True freshman QB Kamario Taylor will make the start for the Bulldogs ahead of veteran and usual starter Blake Shapen.
Mississippi State is starting Kamario Taylor, thrower of 24 collegiate passes, at QB today in the Egg Bowl.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 28, 2025
According to Mississippi State reporters, Blake Shapen did not go through Senior Day proceedings ahead of the game despite being a sixth-year player.
Blake Shapen did not go through MSU's Senior Day proceedings.
— Brian Hadad (@brianhadad) November 28, 2025
It is unclear what this means for Shapen, as he was not believed to have another year of eligibility. He was not listed on the availability report leading into the game. But Shapen notably was not named as one of the Bulldogs' captains for this game, which seems notable given that he was the senior starter at the most important position. It is not yet known if he will be an option for Mississippi State at QB in this game.
But what is known is that the Bulldog offense will open up with Kamario Taylor under center. It's a move the Bulldog fans have been anxious to see. Taylor, a 4-star signee from nearby Macon, MS, is the highest-rated QB signee in program history. He has seen extensive reps this season both in designed packages and in relief of Shapen.
Taylor has completed 62.5% of his passes for 210 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 222 yards and five scores. In games against Arkansas and Georgia, Taylor led four touchdown drives and seven total possessions. He is an athletic and physical runner and possesses a strong arm that can push the ball downfield.
Kamario Taylor is a big-time talent and a fantastic fit for Jeff Lebby's offense. This is anything but an easy game to making his starting debut in, and some freshman mistakes are to be expected. But he's also shown play-making ability that can absolutely make a difference in the Egg Bowl. A strong game from Taylor, even in a loss, would give the Bulldogs something to build on going into the offseason.