5 things for Texas football fans to know about the Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State wide receiver Anthony Evans III, left, is tackled by Texas defensive back Warren Roberson, right, during the first half Oct. 25, 2025 in Starkville, Miss. (James Pugh/Associated Press) Texas football will close out a long month in the Lone Star State with Saturday's home game against Mississippi State. This will be the third straight home game for Texas, which also met Oklahoma in Dallas for a neutral-site contest on Oct. 10. The Longhorns have gone 1-2 while playing in Texas this month. On Sunday, Texas (5-2, 2-2) was ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press poll.MORE:Subscribe to the Statesman's Texas sports newsletterMississippi State (4-3, 2-3) is looking for its first win in Austin since 1992. The Bulldogs have recently had more luck with picking up wins at Texas A&M (2021), Houston (2010) and Baylor (1995).Here are five things to know about the Bulldogs:1. Mississippi State has stumbled after earning top-20 rankingAfter opening the season with four wins, Mississippi State climbed as high as the No. 16 slot in the AP poll. Since then, however, things have slowed down in Starkville. Mississippi State will arrive in Austin with a three-game losing streak having lost to Alabama, LSU and Oklahoma by a combined score of 110-38. View this post on Instagram A post shared by hookem.com (@hookemdotcom)2. Who will be the Bulldogs' quarterback?During this past weekend's battle with Oklahoma, the Clarion Ledger reported that Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor reaggravated an injury that had previously sidelined him for the LSU game. His status for the Texas game wasn't announced after the 23-15 loss to the Sooners. Taylor has played like a Heisman Trophy contender at times this season, but backup Billy Puckett hasn't been as successful. According to the Clarion Ledger, Appalachian State transfer AJ Swann also could be an option if Taylor can't play.3. Anthony Evans III could join exclusive club at Mississippi StateWhoever quarterbacks the Bulldogs will have a top target in receiver Anthony Evans III, who leads the SEC with 53 receptions is third in the conference with 647 receiving yards. He's on pace to join Brenen Thompson (1,054 yards in 2025), Makai Polk (1,046 yards in 2021), Mardye McDole (1,035 yards in 1978) and Fred Ross (1,007 yards in 2015) as the only Bulldogs to record a 1,000-yard receiving season. FILE - Mississippi State coach Zach Arnett protests an official's call during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Kentucky in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Mississippi State fired coach Zach Arnett on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, just 10 games into his first season on the job as the late Mike Leach's replacement.(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) (Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press) 4. Mississippi State is struggling after DC Zach Arnett's returnZach Arnett, a Texas native who led the Bulldogs for parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons in the wake of Mike Leach's death, returned to Mississippi State this season as the defensive coordinator. Mississippi State has struggled in his homecoming; the Bulldogs rank 14th among the SEC's 16 teams in both total defense (392.0 ypg) and scoring defense (27.7 ppg). Mississippi State has forced just six turnovers.5. How often has Texas played Mississippi State?Mississippi State joins Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas A&M as the teams that Texas has played every year since it joined the SEC in 2024, but the overall rivalry between the Bulldogs and Longhorns isn't that extensive. Texas owns a 4-2 lead in a series that began in 1921, and the Longhorns are looking for their fourth straight win. Last season UT rallied to an overtime win in Starkville.Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.This article originally published at 5 things for Texas football fans to know about the Mississippi State Bulldogs.