Kamario Taylor isn't in transfer portal. So why is everyone talking like he is?
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Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor has been the breakout star of the 2026 college football season.
And though it's only Week 4, it seems everyone is angling for the Bulldogs sophomore star to jump into the transfer portal and find a bigger platform than Starkville.
Welcome to college football in 2026.
Never mind Taylor, who grew up 35 miles from Mississippi State's campus and has family who attended the university, is on record saying he hasn't thought about transferring.
“Never really thought about it,” Taylor said this summer. “I mean, all I see is Mississippi State. My dream has been to play quarterback here. Why would I walk away from that?”
But don't let that stop folks from speculating.
Prior to Saturday's Texas-Tennessee showdown, ESPN "College GameDay" game picks included former Alabama coach Nick Saban and Pat McAfee suggesting Taylor would be their offseason priority.
“If I was coaching right now, I’d be trying to get Kamario Taylor to get into the portal," Saban said.
To which McAfee responded, “I mean ethically suspect if you’re doing that in the middle of a season, obviously coach you understand that… If I was coaching right now, I’d be trying to find $10 million to get Kamario Taylor to my team.”
Earlier this season, Saban gushed over the Bulldogs QB: "Kamario Taylor is the real deal. He's the truth and the light."
Taylor, a first-year starter, is rising into Heisman Trophy consideration with 832 passing yards with 11 touchdown passes to one interception through three games this season. The 6-4, 230-pound quarterback also has 178 rushing yards and another score.
Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who played at Mississippi State from 2013-15, says he's willing to open the checkbook to keep Taylor in Starkville.
"I'm going to donate some (toward NIL). We've got to keep this quarterback, we've got to keep him around," Jones said. "With all these NIL teams spending $45-50 million a year, the salary cap doesn't exist in college, so definitely trying to keep our quarterback with us."
Mississippi State isn't naive to the situation, despite Taylor's professed love for the program. Bulldogs athletic director Zac Selmon told On3 this week, "We're going to be as competitive as we need to be."
It's Week 4. MSU is 3-0 and hosts a ranked Missouri team Saturday night. Can't we just enjoy the ride?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamario Taylor isn't in transfer portal. So why is everyone talking like he is?
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