Kamario Taylor is finalizing a new agreement to return to Mississippi State next season, that will make him the highest-paid quarterback in college football, On3’s Chris Low And Pete Nakos report. The deal is worth $7.5 million and, with incentives, could reach $9 million. Taylor underwent season-ending surgery for turf toe on October 28 and repeatedly said he would finish his career as a Bulldog.
After a strong freshman campaign in 2025, Taylor exploded out of the gate as one of the best quarterbacks in the country in 2026. His strong start resulted in a 4-0 start to the season for Mississippi Statewhich catapulted the Bulldogs to No. 16 in the AP poll after a win over No. 19. Missouri.
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Taylor, however, was injured in the Missouri win, kicking off the beginning of the end of its sophomore season. He played in Miss Statenext match against number 7 Alabamamissed the following match against No. 22 LSUand returned for the October 24 match against Oklahoma. However, Taylor didn’t last long in that game against the Sooners, and it was revealed shortly after the loss that he would undergo season-ending surgery.
During his six-game season in 2026, Taylor completed 104/159 passes for 1,460 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He reached the 300 passing yard mark in two of those games and had at least three touchdowns in each of his first five games of the season.
Taylor was firmly in contention for the Heisman Trophy entering the season and was even garnering praise from the greatest college football coach of all time. “If I were a coach right now, I would try to get KaMario Taylor to enter the portal, ” Nick Saban said on ESPN College Game Day.
Kamario Taylor returning to Mississippi State for third season
Taylor’s return is a massive victory for the Mississippi State football program. He appears to be on track to establish himself as one of the program’s all-time greats, and could certainly do so with another massive campaign in 2027.
“Kamario Taylor is a fantastic quarterback,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said before confronting Taylor and Mississippi State earlier this season. “He might be the best we’ve faced in the last three years since I’ve been here..
“Just his ability to create explosives in the passing game, find throws in the RPO game, the off-schedule plays he makes, not only with his feet in the running game, but he also does a great job of keeping his eyes down and creating explosive passes by extending plays with his feet as well. I think he’s had three touchdown passes in every game he’s played. He’s had an explosive passing touchdown in every game, and he plays about as well as I’ve seen a guy play, certainly in the last three years.
There is no doubt that Taylor will enter the 2027 season as one of the top candidates to compete for the Heisman Trophy. No Mississippi State player has already won this award.
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