​STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football quarterback Kamario Taylor addressed transfer speculation after he led a 31-24 win over No. 21 Missouri at Davis Wade Stadium on Sept. 26.”It’s really kind of hard because I’m in season and I don’t want to reply,” Taylor said after the win that got MSU to 4-0 and 2-0 in the SEC. “I don’t look at things like that in the season. When people comment, it’s hard for me to talk to them the way I want to talk to them. But if you know me, you know I bleed maroon and white.”Taylor’s breakout sophomore season continued in the win, which included him throwing for a career-high 360 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His 24-yard touchdown pass to Sanfrisco Magee with 3:57 remaining was the game-winner.He entered the game in a tie for third place in betting odds to win the Heisman Trophy.Yet as Taylor has ascended, some have speculated he will transfer to a different team next season. Taylor isn’t eligible for the NFL draft until 2028.Nick Saban, the former Alabama coach, added fuel to the speculation earlier in the day when he said on ESPN’s “College GameDay” that he would try to get Taylor to transfer if he were still coaching. The Bulldogs face Alabama (4-0, 2-0) next in Starkville on Oct. 3 (11 a.m., ABC).MORE: Would Kamario Taylor transfer? Mississippi State star’s thoughts after Nick Saban comments”I give it zero attention,” Mississippi State third-year coach Jeff Lebby said. “For us, our guys inside our locker room, we know exactly who we got. We know exactly where we’re going. There’s incredible vision. There’s been great vision and a great plan and people love being inside our building every day. Again, we’re far from perfect, but where we’re going is special. (Taylor) is going be leading us there.”The transfer portal opens Jan. 2. Taylor is from Macon, about 30 minutes from Mississippi State. He grew up an MSU fan, his younger brother, Jayytee, is a freshman on the team and their uncle, Omarr Connerr, played quarterback and wide receiver for MSU in the early 2000s.”It’s all about being ourselves,” Taylor said. “With me being a home-state kid, I’m from here. I grew up here, so I know what this program could be. Me and Isaac (Smith) brag about the protentional of it every single day. We try to just lift the guys up. “If we are able to clean up the little details that we messed up on like the penalties, the turnovers, the small assignment busts, if we’re able to pick those things up, we can get Mississippi State back to the top of the arc.”Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Kamario Taylor, Jeff Lebby address Mississippi State QB transfer speculation