Home / Sports / Mississippi State Players React to Surprise Bowl Invitation
Mississippi State Players React to Surprise Bowl Invitation
18 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Mississippi State unexpectedly received a bowl game invitation on December 7.
- Players learned of the invitation during finals week, with some returning to campus.
- Freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor will start after his first career start.
Mississippi State unexpectedly received a bowl game invitation on December 7, despite initially not reaching the six-win threshold for eligibility. The team will now face Wake Forest in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 2. The surprising news arrived during finals week, causing some players who had already left campus to return to Starkville.
Players expressed a mix of shock and excitement upon hearing about the opportunity to play an additional game. Freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor, who made his first career start in the Egg Bowl, will be the starting quarterback for the bowl game. He emphasized the importance of the opportunity to showcase the team's future potential and prepare for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, key player Jahron Manning is awaiting an NCAA waiver that could grant him an extra year of eligibility for 2026. Manning has already completed two seasons in junior college and played in 2024 at Old Dominion before transferring to Mississippi State. The outcome of this waiver will determine his potential return to the team.
