Mississippi State erased a 16-0 deficit to take down South Carolina 41-34 on Saturday night, opening Southeastern Conference play with a comeback win in Columbia. The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in SEC competition, while the Gamecocks dropped to 2-1 and 0-1.

Quarterback KaMario Taylor helped change the course of the game after a rocky start. He began 0-for-3 with an interception on his first throw, which gave South Carolina possession inside Mississippi State's 20-yard line. Taylor then found his rhythm, finishing 18-of-24 for 251 yards and four touchdowns, tying his career high for touchdown passes.

After trailing 16-0, the Bulldogs scored 41 of the game's next 49 points. Taylor led the comeback with touchdown passes of 30 yards to Sanfrisco Magee and 43 yards to Zion Ragins. He later connected with Marquis Johnson for a 23-yard touchdown to cut the Gamecocks' advantage to 23-21 before finding Anthony Evans III for a five-yard score that put Mississippi State ahead.

Taylor's response came after South Carolina had controlled the opening portion of the game. The Gamecocks moved the ball effectively early, but the Bulldogs defense repeatedly prevented those drives from producing touchdowns. Mississippi State also received two interceptions from LaNorris Sellers in the third quarter, with both turnovers occurring inside South Carolina territory. Those takeaways helped the Bulldogs extend their lead.

Running back Fluff Bothwell also produced his best performance of the season, rushing for 115 yards on 21 carries while averaging 5.5 yards per attempt. It was his second consecutive game with more than 100 rushing yards.

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The Gamecocks struggled to generate offense after halftime. South Carolina managed only 89 yards and four first downs in the second half, including no first downs during the third quarter. Sellers ultimately finished 25-of-40 for 282 yards and two touchdowns, while Matt Fuller accounted for a late touchdown that helped the Gamecocks close the gap.

South Carolina cut the deficit to 41-34 on Malik Orson's career-long 52-yard field goal with 52 seconds remaining, but Mississippi State secured the victory after the Gamecocks failed to convert another onside kick.

The game was delayed by one hour and 20 minutes because of persistent lightning near Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Bulldogs return home next Saturday to host No. 20 Missouri in their SEC home opener.