The Duke’s Mayo Bowl on January 2, 2026, was supposed to be a showcase of grit and potential for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, but it ended in heartbreak and uncertainty as the Wake Forest Demon Deacons secured a 43-29 victory at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Yet, the final score quickly became a footnote to a night overshadowed by the sight of Bulldogs’ true freshman quarterback Kamario Taylor being carted off the field late in the fourth quarter after suffering a lower leg injury.
For both programs, the weeks leading up to the bowl were marked by significant roster shakeups. Mississippi State (5-7) entered the game missing key contributors. Safety Isaac Smith was sidelined due to offseason surgery, while backup Tony Mitchell had already departed for the Transfer Portal. The Bulldogs’ running back corps was thinned by Davon Booth’s decision to opt out and prepare for the NFL Draft, leaving Fluff Bothwell and Xavier Gayten to shoulder the load. The quarterback room was also in flux—veteran Blake Shapen had already left the program, paving the way for Taylor to take the reins.
Wake Forest (8-4) faced its own personnel hurdles. The Demon Deacons’ offensive star, running back Demond Claiborne (907 yards, 10 TDs), and starting tackle Fa’alili Fa’amoe both opted out for the NFL Draft. The receiving corps lost its leading man, Chris Barnes, and backup Micah Mays Jr. to the Transfer Portal. On defense, only tackle Mateen Ibirogba was missing from the lineup. Still, the Deacs arrived in Charlotte with enough firepower to expose Mississippi State’s season-long vulnerabilities.
From the opening whistle, the Bulldogs showed flashes of promise. Taylor wasted no time, launching a 51-yard strike to Brenen Thompson on the first play—a bold statement of intent and a testament to the freshman’s arm strength. Mississippi State even outgained Wake Forest in the first half, tallying 205 yards of total offense. But their inability to convert drives into touchdowns—settling for three field goals—proved costly. As the night wore on, the Bulldogs’ offensive line struggled to protect their young quarterback, giving up four sacks and opening few running lanes. The team managed just 108 rushing yards on 40 carries, a meager 2.7 yards per attempt.
Wake Forest, meanwhile, capitalized on Mississippi State’s defensive frailties. The Demon Deacons churned out 150 rushing yards at 4.5 yards per carry, exploiting a Bulldogs defense that’s struggled all season to stop the run. The secondary, with the exception of standout Kelley Jones (who was largely avoided by Wake Forest’s passing attack), was repeatedly targeted and tested. The Bulldogs’ defensive woes weren’t a surprise to those who’ve watched the team’s 12-game campaign, but they were laid bare for all to see on the bowl stage.
Despite the setbacks, Taylor’s resilience was on full display. He left the game twice with cramps and once after an awkward neck landing, only to return each time and keep fighting. According to ESPN’s broadcast, he received 2.5 bags of IV fluid at halftime and made several trips to the medical tent. Yet, he still finished 13-of-22 passing for 241 yards, with a passing touchdown and a 1-yard rushing score in the third quarter. He added 63 rushing yards, showing the dual-threat ability that had Mississippi State fans excited about the future.
That excitement turned to concern with just under two minutes left in the game. Taylor, scrambling for extra yardage, was tackled low by Wake Forest’s Ladarius Webb Jr. He immediately grabbed his lower left leg, and the stadium fell silent as trainers rushed to his aid. With a towel draped over his head, Taylor was carted off the field—his teammates kneeling and praying in support. According to The Clarion Ledger, he was able to stand on his own before being loaded onto the cart, but did not return to the game.
Backup quarterback Luke Kromenhoek, who has announced his intention to enter the Transfer Portal, finished out the contest. The Bulldogs’ already depleted roster was further tested, and the offense sputtered in the game’s final moments. Wake Forest sealed the win with a 62-yard shovel pass touchdown, putting the result out of reach.
After the game, head coach Jeff Lebby offered a positive update on Taylor’s condition, but the injury casts a long shadow over the program’s offseason. Taylor, a four-star recruit and the No. 8 quarterback in the 2025 class, had been named SEC Freshman of the Week for his performance in the regular-season finale against Ole Miss, where he rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns. His growth and leadership had drawn praise from Lebby, who remarked, “I haven’t been around anyone like him. He’s got a lot of work to do, there’s no doubt about that. But just his command, his presence in the building, who he is every single day, there’s this great amount of consistency. It is really hard for young people to operate that way. I’ve got my thumb on him pretty good every single day and he is naturally about the right things. An incredible kid. He wants to please, he wants to get coached and he wants to play well.”
Mississippi State’s loss in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl drops Lebby’s record to 7-18 overall and 1-15 in conference play as he heads into his third season. The Bulldogs’ issues in the trenches—both offensive and defensive—were highlighted once again, with the line unable to protect its quarterbacks or establish a consistent ground game. The defense, while occasionally disruptive with blitzes, needs more playmakers up front to reclaim its reputation as “D-Line University.”
For Wake Forest, the win was a testament to depth and adaptability in the face of roster turnover. For Mississippi State, the bowl experience was a bittersweet reminder of both the promise and the peril of relying on young talent in high-stakes situations. As the Bulldogs look to the future, all eyes will be on Taylor’s recovery and the team’s ability to shore up its weaknesses—especially up front.
As the dust settles in Charlotte, the Bulldogs return to Starkville with more questions than answers. The health of their quarterback of the future is uncertain, and the need for improvement across the roster is clear. The long offseason ahead will be crucial as Mississippi State seeks to turn flashes of potential into sustained success on the gridiron.