It's rivalry week, and Mississippi State takes the field on Black Friday in the Egg Bowl against Ole Miss with bragging rights and bowl-eligibility on the line. And how the Bulldogs handle the QB position will be a key storyline for the game.
There's no questioning who will start at QB for the Bulldogs. Jeff Lebby has rolled with Blake Shapen throughout an up-and-down season for the sixth-year passer, and that won't change on Friday despite calls from the fanbase for true freshman Kamario Taylor to take over. But while Shapen may see the start, Taylor needs to play a major role in the Bulldog offense in the Egg Bowl.
Mississippi State needs its rushing attack to be at its best against Ole Miss
Ole Miss has not been great at defending the run. They've allowed an average of 153 rushing yards per game when adjusting for sacks, and if not for a few strong games against some truly awful rushing offenses, those numbers would be a good bit worse.
They've not been as bad about slowing run games over the last month, but they're certainly still vulnerable. And specifically, dual-threat QBs have given them problems. In five SEC games played against QBs there were legitimate run threats, they've allowed a sack-adjusted average of 55 yards at 5.6 yards per rush for those players.
And that's exactly why Kamario Taylor needs to play a major role in this game. He will be as good an athlete as they've seen at the position. He himself could have a big day on the ground, and his presence creates more space for RBs Davon Booth and Fluff Bothwell. Having him on the field helps give the Bulldogs their best chance at attacking the biggest weakness of the Rebel defense.
Mississippi State's run game is most effective when Kamario Taylor is in the game, and when the run game is rolling, it creates better matchups in the passing game for receivers Brenen Thompson and Anthony Evans III to take advantage of. The clearest path for a big day offensively comes with Taylor seeing heavy usage.
Jeff Lebby still trusts Blake Shapen to best operate the offense, and with bowl-eligibility at stake, he values the more experienced player. But Lebby has to involve Kamario Taylor on a large percentage of snaps in this game. He's too valuable a piece, especially in this matchup, to not see the field. His involvement gives Mississippi State its best chance to win.