Marquette University’s men’s basketball program has secured a two‑year home‑and‑home series with Mississippi State, guaranteeing a game at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee during the 2026‑27 season and a return trip to Starkville in 2027‑28.
A revived rivalry
The series adds another chapter to a matchup that has featured just two meetings to date, both occurring during Feast Week events. Marquette holds a 1‑1 record, highlighted by an 89‑62 victory at the 2012 Maui Invitational and a narrow 58‑55 loss in the 2022 Fort Myers Tip Off.
Mississippi State arrives after a season that ended 13‑19 overall and 5‑13 in SEC play under head coach Chris Jans. The Bulldogs are slated to open the 2026‑27 campaign ranked 69th nationally, the third‑lowest spot in the SEC.
Foreign tour reshapes preparation
From July 27 through August 3, Marquette will travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, where it will play three exhibition games and benefit from additional practice time. The NCAA recently approved legislation allowing teams to schedule foreign trips annually, a change that could reshape preseason planning across the sport.
The extra work in Vancouver is expected to accelerate the integration of new roster pieces, including guard Sananda Fru and forward Nolan Minessale, into head coach Shaka Smart’s system.
Key player returns and roster additions
Guard Josh Hubbard, who averaged 22.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season, will return to Mississippi State, providing a scoring boost for the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, Marquette’s coaching staff, led by Shaka Smart, will look to leverage the Vancouver training camp to embed newcomers into the lineup.
The upcoming matchups also bring former player Rotnei Clark into the conversation, as his previous performances against Marquette are part of the historical narrative that surrounds the series.
Reporter Ben Steele has documented the developments, noting the strategic importance of both the home‑and‑home format and the foreign tour for team building.
Rankings and outlook
With Mississippi State projected to start the season near the bottom of the SEC rankings, the series offers Marquette an early opportunity to test its revamped roster against a team undergoing transition. The blend of home‑court advantage, international experience and returning talent sets the stage for an intriguing start to the 2026‑27 campaign.