Mississippi State Bulldogs at Texas Longhorns

Injuries noted

Mississippi State Bulldogs: Kamario Taylor (out) — QB #1 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Isaac Smith (doubtful) — S #2 listed Doubtful on the SEC Update 2 report; Jalen Smith (out) — LB #10 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Tyler Lockhart (doubtful) — LB #11 listed Doubtful on the SEC Update 2 report; Ayden Williams (out) — WR #11 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Trevion Williams (out) — DL #23 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; DJ Chester (out) — OL #78 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Diesel Moye (out) — DL #99 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report

Texas Longhorns: Colin Simmons (out) — EDG #1 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Trevor Goosby (out) — OL #74 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report; Richard Wesley (out) — EDG #99 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• Arch Manning is TEX's projected starter

  7.67 Y/A

  Arch Manning is TEX's projected starting quarterback. ESPN's Oct. 30 preview names Manning as Texas's starter. KXAN (Oct. 30) quotes Steve Sarkisian praising Manning's 'edgy' play over the last two weeks, including the Ole Miss win in which he accounted for three TDs. No opened source has the team itself (depth chart, release or coach) saying he starts, and Sarkisian said the depth-chart meeting is Saturday morning. None of the opened sources reports an injury to Manning in the Ole Miss game or limited practice this week. That means no report was found, not that he is confirmed healthy. 2026 line: 1511 passing yards, 63.5% completions, 7.67 yards per attempt, 12-7 TD-INT over 7 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• TEX: 19.1 points allowed per game to MSST's 27.7

  8.6 PPG

  Texas allows 19.1 a game, close to last season's 20.3, so its defense looks like a stable strength. Mississippi State is at 27.7, a little better than last year's 30.2 but still soft. At home, Texas has the defense you can trust, and Mississippi State's offense has to score against a unit that has held steady across two seasons.

MISMATCH

• TEX: 19.1 points allowed a game to MSST's 27.7

  19.1 VS 27.7

  The widest gap between these two is points allowed a game: MSST's defense allowed 27.7 points a game over 7 games; TEX's defense allowed 19.1 points a game over 7 games this season. Last season MSST was at 30.2 over 13 games and TEX at 20.3 over 13 games.

COVERAGE

• TEX: 178.1 passing yards allowed per game to MSST's 267.4

  89.3 YPG

  Texas allows 178.1 passing yards a game over 7 games, and Mississippi State gives up 267.4. That is a tight secondary against one that has been easy to throw on. If Texas leads, Mississippi State will have to pass into that coverage, which tends to cap its passing totals. Texas's own passing game should find room, so its offense is the side with the cleaner path.

REPLACEMENT

• Kamario Taylor (QB) is out for MSST

  OUT

  QB #1 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Jalen Smith (LB) is out for MSST

  OUT

  LB #10 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Ayden Williams (WR) is out for MSST

  OUT

  WR #11 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Trevion Williams (DL) is out for MSST

  OUT

  DL #23 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• DJ Chester (OL) is out for MSST

  OUT

  OL #78 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Diesel Moye (DL) is out for MSST

  OUT

  DL #99 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Colin Simmons (EDGE) is out for TEX

  OUT

  EDG #1 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Trevor Goosby (OL) is out for TEX

  OUT

  OL #74 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Richard Wesley (EDGE) is out for TEX

  OUT

  EDG #99 listed Out on the SEC Update 2 report SEC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:10:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

TEAM RECORD

• SEC game: MSST 2-3, TEX 2-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the SEC. MSST is 2-3 against it, TEX is 2-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-31.