The Southeastern Conference has unveiled its 2026‑27 men’s basketball schedule, confirming that Mississippi State and Ole Miss will meet twice during conference play. The announcement, made public on June 25, sets the stage for a renewed rivalry that could shape the early season narrative for both programs.
Conference Double‑Headers
Ole Miss will host Kentucky and Auburn at home, while also traveling to face Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Texas, and Vanderbilt. Mississippi State’s home schedule includes Kentucky, Florida, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Missouri, with road games slated against Arkansas, Tennessee, Auburn, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt.
Both schools are coming off seasons that fell short of NCAA Tournament expectations, and each has scheduled a series of non‑conference games to fine‑tune their rosters before SEC play begins.
Non‑Conference Highlights
Ole Miss has announced a single non‑conference matchup at Virginia Tech on December 1, whereas Mississippi State will open the season on November 2 at home against Tennessee Tech, followed by contests against Northwestern State, Georgia Tech, and Alabama A&M.
Returning talent adds a layer of intrigue: Mississippi State’s leading scorer Josh Hubbard is 195 points away from breaking the program’s all‑time scoring record, and the Bulldogs will also field four other returning players. Ole Miss will count on Ilias Kamardine, Patton Pinkins, and Zach Day to anchor its interior.
Historically, Mississippi State holds a 6‑2 advantage over Ole Miss during coach Chris Jans’ four‑year tenure, a statistic that underscores the competitive balance as both squads aim to climb back into the national conversation.