‘I Bleed Maroon and White’ — Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor Breaks Silence on Transfer Portal Rumors After Nick Saban’s Bold Remark

Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor has quickly become one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2026 college football season.

The sophomore helped the No. 24 Bulldogs overcome No. 19 Missouri 31-24 on Saturday, throwing for 360 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score with less than four minutes remaining.

But after another impressive performance, Taylor was asked about something happening away from the field.

Kamario Taylor Makes His Loyalty Clear

During ESPN’s College GameDay, legendary coach Nick Saban had plenty of praise for Taylor. “If I was coaching right now, I’d be trying to get Kamario Taylor to get into the portal,” Saban said.

Pat McAfee joked that Saban’s comments were “ethically suspect,” considering the season is already underway.

The remark quickly sparked discussion among college football fans. With NIL deals and the transfer portal playing such a major role in roster building, some fans began wondering whether other programs could eventually make a move for Taylor.

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Mississippi State fans, understandably, were not thrilled with the idea.

After the win over Missouri, Taylor was asked directly about Saban’s comments and the growing speculation about the transfer portal.

“It’s kinda hard because I’m in the season,” Taylor said. “I don’t like to reply; I don’t like to look at things like that during the season, but like, when people come to me, it’s hard to talk to them the way I want to talk to them. But if you know me, you know I bleed maroon and white.”

Kamario Taylor on the narrative that he should leave Mississippi State after this season:

“If you know me, you know I bleed maroon and white.” pic.twitter.com/deCf48O56W

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) September 27, 2026

Taylor’s answer made his current feelings about Mississippi State clear. He has become a key part of Jeff Lebby’s offense and has helped Mississippi State open the season 4-0.

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Taylor Putting Up Big Numbers

Taylor’s production has backed up the growing attention surrounding him.

Through four games, he has completed 69.2% of his passes for 1,192 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He also ranks sixth among quarterbacks in PFN’s CFB QB Impact Metric, further highlighting his strong start to the season.

He has also shown that he can perform when Mississippi State faces adversity.

Saban specifically pointed to Taylor’s composure during difficult road games, including the Bulldogs’ comeback against South Carolina after falling behind 16-0.

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That ability to stay calm under pressure has quickly become one of Taylor’s biggest strengths.

Mississippi State Off to Another Strong Start

The victory over Missouri gave Mississippi State its second straight 4-0 start.

The Bulldogs already have a top-25 win and now have a quarterback who is attracting national attention while making his commitment to the program clear.

For now, Taylor appears focused on what is happening in Starkville rather than the transfer portal.

And after his latest performance, Mississippi State fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about what the sophomore quarterback can do next.