Kamario Taylor Finalizing $7.5 Million Deal to Return to Mississippi State, Reports Say

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor is finalizing a new deal to return to the Bulldogs for the 2027 season, according to reports published on Wednesday. On3 reported that the deal is worth $7.5 million and could climb as high as $9 million with incentives. ESPN's Pete Thamel also reported that Taylor is finalizing a deal to return, and the On3 figures would make him the highest paid quarterback in college football.

The reports describe a deal still being finalized, not a signed contract. Mississippi State has not announced the agreement, and none of the reports carried a statement from the university confirming the terms.

A breakout season cut short

Taylor, a sophomore, played six games this season before his year ended early. He threw for 1,460 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions, and he added 147 rushing yards. Mississippi State won its first four games with Taylor at quarterback, and the Bulldogs stand at 4 wins and 5 losses with three games left on the schedule.

A turf toe injury ended the run. On3 reported that Taylor had season ending surgery for turf toe on Oct. 28, and theScore reported that he is slated to return for spring practice. Before the injury, his start had marked him out as one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the country for the coming transfer cycle.

Why Mississippi State moved now

On3 reported that Taylor has said repeatedly that he would finish his career as a Bulldog. Bleacher Report, citing Thamel, said the timing of the new deal lets head coach Jeff Lebby build his roster and his recruiting pitch around Taylor for 2027, instead of spending the winter fighting to keep him out of the transfer portal.

The reported price sets a new mark for a college quarterback. At $7.5 million before incentives, Taylor's deal tops the quarterback market as it stands in November 2026, and it shows how far college programs now go to keep a proven starter in place for one more season.

What happens next rests on the paperwork. If the deal is signed on the reported terms, Mississippi State keeps its quarterback, its 2027 recruiting centerpiece and the face of Lebby's program. Until the school or Taylor announces it, the agreement stays where the reports put it: agreed in outline, still being finalized.