We knew that Mississippi State's star quarterback Kamario Taylor would be sidelined on Saturday as the Bulldogs came to town. However, most people expected Parker Puckett to step into the QB1 role.
On Saturday, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported that the Bulldogs would actually be starting QB3 AJ Swann instead, entering a relative unknown to the matchup for the Texas Longhorns.
It’s been trending toward Mississippi State starting AJ Swann at quarterback today against No. 11 Texas, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) October 31, 2026
Swann had been the third-string QB behind Kamario Taylor, who is now out for the season, and Parker Puckett, who was previously Taylor’s backup.… pic.twitter.com/3are16JT1z
Now, this isn't to say that Swann hasn't played at the college level before; he's actually the most experienced player in Mississippi State's quarterback room. However, he's never played a snap for the Bulldogs, so the Horns will have to be ready for a QB that nobody has seen play in nearly a full year.
Swann started his career with the Vanderbilt Commodores before transferring to play for the LSU Tigers and then the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Throughout his career, he has earned 4,236 passing yards for 32 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
Longhorns defense could have a hayday with AJ Swann in the backfield
He's far from the dual-threat quarterback Texas would've had to prepare for had Taylor been healthy and available for the Bulldogs. In fact, over four seasons, Swann has actually lost 72 yards on the ground, only rushing for one touchdown.
Simply put, while the Horns won't be setting their sights on an inexperienced quarterback like Puckett, the fact that Swann is suiting up could create the perfect opportunity for Texas to flood Mississippi State's backfield.
Defensive leaders like Lance Jackson, Rasheem Biles, and Hero Kanu have the chance to rack up sacks and quarterback pressures galore, even with Colin Simmons and fellow edge rusher Richard Wesley sidelined.
There's obviously a reason that Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby opted to give Swann the nod over Puckett, but if I'm being honest, I can't quite pin down what it is with how hard it's been for the more veteran quarterback to find his footing in the past (other than the simple fact that he is more experienced).
Of course, the Bulldogs are currently on a three-game losing streak since Taylor was initially injured against the Missouri Tigers a month ago and Puckett started slinging the rock for them. So, maybe Lebby is simply trying to throw everything he has at the wall to see what sticks.
So far this season, the Horns have amassed 19 total sacks (10.5 of those being credited to Simmons), but I would expect that number to skyrocket when the Bulldogs come to the 40 Acres.
Also read: Texas Longhorns final odds and prediction for Week 9 vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
No. 11 Texas and Mississippi State are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Oct. 31, and while it's Halloween, the Longhorns' defense may be scarier for Swann than any costume ever could be.
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