Kamario Taylor has Mississippi State in Top 25 for first time since 2022

Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kamario Taylor has Mississippi State in Top 25 for first time since 2022

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Sep 20, 2026 2:53 PM ET

For the first time since the end of the 2022 season, the Mississippi State Bulldogs are back in the AP Top 25.

The Bulldogs were receiving votes prior to their 41-34 road victory in Week 3 against the South Carolina Gamecocks. The win moved Mississippi State to 3-0 this season and sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor has been the main reason for the early season success.

Kamario Taylor is taking the college football world by storm

Taylor started just one game in 2025, with that start coming in the Egg Bowl against the Ole Miss Rebels. Taylor shined in that game (351 total yards, two touchdowns) and that set lofty expectations coming into the season.

Through three games, Taylor has blown past those expectations. He's thrown for 832 yards with 11 touchdowns and just one interception. Taylor's 11 touchdowns are tied for second in all of college football and his 88.9 QBR ranks sixth.

Taylor has quickly taken the college football world by storm and has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

Kamario Taylor just led Mississippi State all the way back from 16 down in its SEC opener

18/26, 251 PYDS, 4 PTD, 33 RUYDS, 1 INT vs. South Carolina

The Bulldogs erased a 16 to 0 deficit to win 41 to 34 and move to 3-0. https://t.co/Kea9kaKGCt pic.twitter.com/pnrHzE2LHV
— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) September 20, 2026

How long can Mississippi State stay inside the top 25?

While it likely feels great for Mississippi State fans to see their ranked for the first time in over three seasons, that ranking may be short lived.

Four of the next five games for the Bulldogs are against ranked opponents. Three of those are against teams ranked in the Top 10 (No. 8 Alabama, No. 10 LSU, No. 1 Texas) and the fourth is in Week 4 against No. 19 Missouri.

A win at home in Week 4 against Missouri would likely catapult Mississippi State further up the rankings and give the program its first week ranked better than No. 20 since Week 7 of the 2022 season.

A loss, though, and the Bulldogs will fall right back out of the rankings and have quite the uphill battle to climb with their remaining schedule.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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