⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Mississippi State's Week 2 trip to Minnesota is a major swing game because it falls between the Louisiana-Monroe opener and the SEC road opener at South Carolina. - Mississippi State will start first-year quarterback Kamario Taylor against Minnesota's second-year starter Drake Lindsey, who threw for 2,382 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions as a freshman. - Minnesota defensive lineman Anthony Smith returns after producing 17.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in 2025, making him the central protection challenge for Mississippi State. - A road win over an experienced Power Four opponent would give Jeff Lebby's third Mississippi State team momentum entering SEC play, while a loss would narrow its path to a successful season.

- Alabama lost defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman to a season-ending ACL injury; defensive back Jorden Edmonds is targeted for a midseason return, while EJ Crowell and receiver Noah Rogers are expected back sooner. Arkansas lost tight end Maddox Lassiter, defensive lineman J'Lynn Allen and punter Connor Smith for 2026, but RB1 Sutton Smith should be ready for the opener. - Auburn linebacker J.J. Faulk is out for the year, with tight end Jonathan Edwards, tackle Tai Buster and corner Devin Williams still uncertain. Florida reported no major camp loss; Georgia remains without Amaris Williams and likely Dante Dowdell, while center Drew Bobo should play. Kentucky running back Tovani Mizell is out, with Jovante Barnes and receiver Nic Anderson questionable. - LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt and linebacker Whit Weeks are full-go, though edge Gabe Reliford remains out. Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy will miss the opener but is practicing; Gavin Hoffman should be ready and Donta Simpson is cleared. Oklahoma center Jake Maikkula is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks. - Ole Miss reported no major preseason injury. South Carolina lost receivers Jaden Sellers and Jayden Gibson for the season, with tackle Jacarrius Peak expected out roughly two weeks and Dylan Stewart unavailable opening weekend. Tennessee lost Edrees Farooq, Jaedon Harmon and Jadas Richard, with several more questionable plus Arion Carter suspended one game. - Texas is evaluating left tackle Trevor Goosby's knee, though no tear was initially indicated. Texas A&M lost Chace Sims and Tiger Riden for the season and receiver Jerome Myles left the team. Vanderbilt had no major new camp injury, while Mississippi State's principal questions are receiver Ayden Williams and limited defensive linemen D.J. Reed and Kalvin Dinkins.

- Injury: Ya Boy Offense: Blake Steen - need a human plow on the line Defense: Will Whitson - can be a force on the edge if he can block out his injury memory

- Mississippi State held its first preseason scrimmage on August 16, which was closed to the public. - Coach Jeff Lebby stated that quarterback Kamario Taylor performed well but will want a couple of throws back. - The scrimmage was closed, but coach Jeff Lebby held a press conference immediately afterward. - He said the starters played 47 snaps while the second team played 40 snaps.

- DL: Sylla was one of our better pass rushers last year and really was coming into his own before the end of year.

- DL/LB: Hopefully we do but if any area needed a boost I'm thinking edge is a perfect spot for addition.

- DL: I just got back from letting our dog out to go pee one last time before bed.

- QB/OL: Our OL is a lot more talented than at any point since Lebby has been here.

- DL: You are better off refusing, but in MS refusing is an automatic 6 month DL suspension which sucks.