As Texas turns the page after the Ole Miss win, they invite their Magnolia State rivals to Austin. Mississippi State comes into Austin after major injury news, leaving the Bulldogs without one of the best players in the country. Despite that, Jeff Lebby has had success against Texas defenses during his time as an OC and now a head coach. Slowing the Bulldog offense will be easier without their QB1 but far from easy and their defense is capable of making momentum changing plays.
Here’s how the Bulldogs stack up walking into Austin this weekend:
Mississippi State Bulldogs Offense
The Bulldogs come into this game nursing an incredibly important injury. Kamario Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a foot injury, leaving Mississippi State without their starting
QB. Taylor was not only a great QB but one of the most impactful players in the county. Without him, the offense has struggled mightily with backup Parker Puckett at the helm. Despite that, Jeff Lebby’s ability to create mismatches for his WRs present issues for Texas.
Alongside Puckett, star RB Fluff Bothwell made his return to the field and ripped off a 100-yard performance. He’s capable of taking over the game if the Texas defense can’t slow him down early. On the outside, the Bulldogs, as they always do, have remarkable speed. Anthony Evans III leads the way, with Sanfrisco Magee, Marquis Johnson and Zion Ragins filling out the unit. Sam West is the TE1, who has been a factor in the receiving and passing game, throwing for a TD last week vs. Oklahoma. Even without Taylor, they are loaded with difference makers on offense.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Defense
The defensive side of the ball has taken a step forward under re-hire Zach Arnett. While they aren’t in the SEC elite, they have been able to slow down offenses enough to let their offense take over. Since Taylor went down, that hasn’t been working, meaning the defense has been susceptible to giving up explosives. That should be something Texas can take advantage of on Saturday night.
Former Longhorn Jaray Bledsoe and Will Whitson are leading a dangerous DL. Leading tackler Tyler Lockhart and Fatt Forrest head the LB unit but the secondary is the strong unit. Led by first-round NFL talent Kelley Jones, Isaac Smith, Kendall Dolby and Jett Jefferson fill out an experienced group with great ball skills. The defense hasn’t been a top-performer but the talent is there to create chaos against Manning and the Texas offense.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Overall
The Bulldogs enter Austin licking their wounds. The Kamario Taylor injury is as impactful as any injury around the country, leaving Mississippi State’s offense without its engine. Despite that, Fluff Bothwell, Anthony Evans, Sanfrisco Magee and more fill out a talented skill position group. On defense, they have enough individual talent to take advantage of Longhorns mistakes but if the Texas offense can avoid hurting themselves, they could be in for a strong performance.
Texas should be able to get a rather sweat-free win this weekend but that’s been an impossible task for Texas this season, no matter the opponent. This weekend could be a true turning point for the offense where they mix the explosiveness/run game of last week with a turnover free performance. If they can do that, it should be a nice start to the home stretch of the Longhorns season.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Early look at Mississippi State: Bulldogs much improved in 2026
