Sports · Starkville
"Kamario Taylor finalizing return deal with Mississippi State"
Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
STARKVILLE — Star quarterback Kamario Taylor is finalizing a deal to return to Mississippi State football for the 2027 season.
The deal is worth $7.5 million, and above $9 million with incentives, a figure that would make him the highest-paid quarterback in college football.
Taylor will be a junior next season and is not eligible for the NFL draft until 2028.
Taylor broke out in 2026, his first season as MSU's starter, leading the Bulldogs to a 4-0 start while he emerged as an early candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
However, he suffered an injury in the Sept. 26 win against Missouri, tried to keep playing through it, and ultimately underwent season-ending foot surgery on Oct. 28.
The Bulldogs (4-5, 2-5 SEC) are on a five-game losing streak since Taylor got injured against Missouri. They host Auburn (5-4, 3-4) at Davis Wade Stadium on Nov. 14 (11 a.m., ESPN2).
"We're always talking about retention," Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby said on Nov. 9 about the status of negotiations with Taylor. "We're going to continue to talk about that huge piece of it and we're right in the middle of those things right now."
Taylor, who's from Macon and grew up an MSU fan, will be regarded as one of the top players in college football next season and a pillar for the Bulldogs to build the roster around.
Mississippi State peaked at No. 16 in the US LBM Coaches Poll before the losing streak started.
Kamario Taylor 2026 stats
- Completion percentage: 65.4%
- Passing yards: 1,460
- Passing touchdowns: 17
- Interceptions: 4
- Rushing yards: 147
- Rushing touchdowns: 1
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