Texas hosts Mississippi State without star quarterback

No. 11 Texas (5-2, 2-2 SEC) will play on home turf on Saturday night to try to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns face visiting Mississippi State (4-3, 2-3) at 6:45 p.m. at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin. The game marks a critical moment for Texas, which recovered from two consecutive losses with a 34-27 victory over Ole Miss last week. That win moved Texas ahead of the Rebels in the Associated Press poll and provided momentum before the Bulldogs arrive.

Mississippi State enters the contest after dropping three straight games, a slump that followed an initial four-win start. The Bulldogs also suffered a major personnel loss earlier this week when head coach Jeff Lebby announced that star quarterback Kamario Taylor will undergo surgery to repair a toe injury. Taylor is expected to miss the game, forcing the team to rely on sophomore Parker Puckett or Appalachian State transfer AJ Swann.

Puckett has served as a backup in the last two games, throwing for 368 yards on 64.1% completion with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for 101 yards on 20 carries. If Puckett does not start, AJ Swann is the other option. The Bulldogs will also lean on running back Fluff Bothwell, who has topped 100 yards in all four of his completed games this season. Bothwell has accumulated 514 yards and three touchdowns on 91 carries.

Texas will also deal with injury to its own offensive line. All-American left tackle Trevor Goosby underwent season-ending knee surgery this week. This leaves quarterback Arch Manning without his primary protector on the left side. Manning threw for 212 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the win over Ole Miss. Receiver Cam Coleman returned to practice this week after leaving that game with a shoulder injury.

The matchup features contrasting defensive challenges. Mississippi State allows 267.4 passing yards per game, the worst mark in the SEC. Texas defense, which forced eight takeaways this season, may capitalize on the Bulldogs' third-highest turnover rate in the conference. On the ground, Texas allows 106 rushing yards per game, the second-best mark in the league. However, Mississippi State runs at a fast tempo, averaging 65.5 snaps per game in recent contests.

Texas edge rusher Lance Jackson will likely see increased opportunities after All-American Colin Simmons is expected to sit out with an ankle injury. Jackson recorded his first sack of the season in the second week of play. The weather forecast calls for highs near 80 degrees, with temperatures staying above 70 during the game. Early morning showers are expected to clear by kickoff.

The Longhorns lead the all-time series against Mississippi State, 4-2. Their last meeting in October 2025 ended with a 45-38 Texas win in overtime. Texas is favored by 20.5 points, and the over/under is set at 50.5 total points. The game will be televised on ESPN and broadcast on radio stations 1300, 98.1, and 105.3 in Spanish.