SEC Announces 2026 Kickoff Times and TV Windows
The Southeastern Conference has unveiled the kickoff times and television windows for its 2026 football slate, giving fans of Mississippi State and Ole Miss a clear picture of when their teams will take the field. The announcement covers conference games only, excluding the opening matchups, and outlines a series of broadcast windows that will shape the viewing experience across the region.
Four distinct windows are used for scheduling: early (11 a.m.‑12 p.m. CT), afternoon (2:30‑3:30 p.m.), night (5‑7 p.m.) and flex (2:30‑3:30 or 5‑7 p.m.). Each window carries its own television parameters, allowing the conference to distribute marquee matchups across prime viewing periods while accommodating regional preferences.
Mississippi State opens its conference campaign on September 5, hosting Louisiana‑Monroe at 6:30 p.m. CT, a night‑window slot. Later in the season the Bulldogs will travel to Texas on October 31, where the game is slated for an early‑afternoon kickoff, and will also host Missouri at home on September 26 in a night slot.
Ole Miss begins the season in Nashville, meeting Louisville at 7:30 p.m. CT on September 6 in a flex slot. The Rebels will also play at Texas and face Georgia in flex windows, while at home they are set for two afternoon slots and an early‑window game against Auburn on October 31.
The Egg Bowl, the annual rivalry between Mississippi State and Ole Miss, is scheduled for Friday, November 27, in Oxford, Mississippi, with an 11 a.m. kickoff on ABC. The game caps the regular season and will be broadcast nationally, underscoring its significance to both fan bases.
Overall, Mississippi State will feature three conference games in the early window, two in flex slots and two at night, while Ole Miss will have four flex contests, two afternoon slots and one early‑window matchup. The distribution reflects the conference’s effort to balance competitive storytelling with broadcast logistics.