NORMAN — Brent Venables already knows the answer to perhaps the biggest question surrounding Oklahoma’s second SEC road contest this week.
At least, he has to prepare the Sooners’ defense like he does.
“You know Kamario Taylor’s going to play,” Venables quipped Monday on his coach’s show.
Mississippi State’s star quarterback watched last weekend’s loss to LSU from the sideline with a boot on his right foot. Taylor limped off the field and spent time in the injury tent before leading a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Missouri on Sept. 26. He then played through visible pain in a loss to Alabama on Oct. 3 and exited the game in the fourth quarter.
Taylor, a legit Heisman Trophy contender before the injury, was listed as questionable to play against OU on Wednesday night’s initial SEC availability report. His 290 yards per game and 17 touchdowns rank in the top 10 nationally and lead the SEC.
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Billy Puckett, a former walk-on, made his first career start in place of Taylor against the Tigers. He completed 16 of 26 passes for 121 yards, no touchdowns and one interception as the Bulldogs were shut out on the road.
Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby played coy during his press conference this week, referring to the availability report and calling Taylor’s status “day to day.” But assuming, like Venables is, that Taylor gives it a go, the Sooners have a tough task on their hands.
“He can sling it,” Venables said. “He’s big, he’ll run right through your soul. Jeff’s done a good job.”
Not knowing who will start at quarterback presents a challenge to any team. It forces coaches and players to study the tendencies of multiple players.
But this week, OU was focused more on the Bulldogs’ offense as a whole, while also getting to know both Taylor and Puckett. For the Sooners, each week of prep is more of the same — diving deep into the team’s previous games and studying all of its habits.
Notably, MSU’s starting running back Fluff Bothwell is also questionable.
"We still prepare like any other game and look at all the other games,” defensive back Reggie Powers III said. “We know what they're going to like. So preparing for both quarterbacks isn't really too serious because we can look at every game just like any other game and prepare the same way.
“If they have the better quarterback in, we're going to prepare the same way because we know we have to stop them anyway."
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Taylor certainly pops on film, though.
In five games, the second-year player has thrown for 1,450 yards, 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He has also rushed for over 150 yards and a touchdown.
"His ability to stretch the ball down the field, leading receivers and getting past a lot of defensive backs,” Powers said about what separates Taylor. “Also, his ability to run. He's a hard guy to get down. Everybody needs to swarm the ball."
Lebby will likely keep his cards close to his chest throughout the week.
The two head coaches in this game know each other well.
Lebby was Venables’ offensive coordinator during his first two seasons at the helm in Norman. During their last season together in 2023, OU’s offense ranked No. 3 nationally in total offense.
The former Sooner offensive lineman, student assistant and play-caller has himself a quarterback in Year 3 as the head man in Starkville.
In Venables’ mind, ahead of battling his former assistant, there’s no way Taylor doesn’t play.
“They’re averaging a gazillion points and a gazillion yards,” Venables said. “They put pressure on you, man. They go with a really high tempo and he’s completing just under 70% of his passes.
“Him and that running back (will play).”
OU vs. Mississippi State
KICKOFF: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss. (SEC Network)
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Will Kamario Taylor play for MSU vs OU football? Brent Venables certainly thinks so