It’s a tough year to quibble with LSU’s home schedule.
Tiger fans will see Clemson, Texas A&M, Alabama and Texas in Tiger Stadium this year in what could be the best home slate in the history of the building. Add Mississippi State to that list, but the Bulldogs don’t generate quite as much excitement.
State’s return to the Tiger schedule after two years off will come in the form of an early kickoff. The SEC announced either an 11:00 a.m. or noon kickoff. That dampens things a bit further, but the cow bells are back on the slate.
Jeff Lebby enters year three in Starkville, and it’s time to get things in maroon moving.
TAYLOR’S TIME
State fans have been excited about the Kamario Taylor era since he committed as a high school junior. Taylor, a Mason, Miss., native, is the highest rated quarterback recruit in the history of the school. He’s the guy Lebby has hitched his era to, and that starts in 2026.
Kamario Taylor is going to be so much fun to watch in 2026 🐶 pic.twitter.com/rIejiHToSr
— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) June 18, 2026
Blake Shapen, when healthy, quarterbacked the first two seasons for the State head coach. Michael Van Buren handled the second half of the schedule in 2024. Now it’s Taylor’s time.
In two starts a season ago, Taylor did some good things. He ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. For the season, he threw five touchdowns and only one interception.
Lebby has had an offseason to gear everything toward Taylor’s dynamic skillset.
ZACH IS BACK
LSU isn’t the only school bringing back fired coaches. Zach Arnett returns to coordinate the Mississippi State defense just two years after being dismissed. He spent time at Ole Miss after being fired.
Arnett’s task is to give Lebby a competent defense. That hasn’t happened yet.
State has ranked outside the top 100 nationally in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense in both seasons of Lebby’s tenure. It’s impossible to win like that.
The defense has allowed 40-plus points nine times in two seasons. That has to change if Lebby’s 1-15 SEC record is going to start moving in the right direction.
BYE, BYE, BYE
The scheduling helps State a little bit in this matchup with LSU.
The Bulldogs will be coming off their bye week, and LSU will have played a night game at Kentucky the week prior which means a late-night flight and early Sunday morning arrival back in Baton Rouge.
Add in a potential 11:00 a.m kickoff, and State couldn’t really ask for much more help with the placement of the game.
Maroon and mimosas in mid-October for LSU and State’s reunion.
