Mississippi State’s football program has officially removed its scheduled meetings with Memphis for the 2028 and 2029 seasons, a move that clears the way for a home showdown against Louisiana Tech on September 16, 2028.
The decision stems from the SEC’s upcoming nine‑game conference slate, which eliminates the need for a buyout clause that would have been triggered by the conference’s recent expansion, allowing the Bulldogs to reshuffle non‑conference commitments without financial penalty.
Nevertheless, the Bulldogs will still host North Alabama on September 2, 2028, and have slotted games against West Georgia and Southern Miss in 2029, preserving a varied non‑conference slate that keeps the schedule competitive.
The shift also reflects the SEC’s long‑standing requirement that each member face at least one opponent from a power conference each year, a rule that was last invoked when Mississippi State and Memphis met in 2022, a 49‑23 victory for the Bulldogs in Starkville.
Looking ahead, the 2026 football season will open on September 5 against Louisiana‑Monroe at Davis Wade Stadium, marking the first of several new matchups as the Bulldogs navigate the revised schedule.
Basketball exhibitions set for fall
Turning to basketball, Mississippi State announced two exhibition contests in October 2024: a home game against Memphis on October 23, with tickets going on sale August 26, and a road test against Florida State in Pensacola on October 10, the latter taking place the day before the football team hosts Oklahoma.
The university has yet to release its complete 2026‑27 basketball schedule, but the early‑season exhibitions signal a busy fall for the program as it prepares for the upcoming campaign.