Mississippi State’s football series with Memphis is taking a detour, and the Bulldogs already have a replacement lined up.
A program spokesperson confirmed Aug. 25 that the games against Memphis scheduled for 2028 and 2029 have been canceled. In their place, Mississippi State will host Louisiana Tech on Sept. 16, 2028.
The school did not say why the matchups were dropped or which side made the call. The contract language gives either program an out without a buyout if Memphis’ or Mississippi State’s conference adds league games. That fits the current landscape, with the SEC moving to a nine-game conference schedule beginning in 2026.
Before the cancellation, Mississippi State was set to travel to Memphis in 2028 and bring the return game to Starkville the next season. The two programs are still slated to meet again in 2034 at Davis Wade Stadium.
For now, Mississippi State’s 2028 nonconference home slate also includes North Alabama on Sept. 2.
In 2029, the Bulldogs have home dates with West Georgia and Southern Miss. The SEC also requires each team to play at least one nonconference game every year against a power conference opponent.
Memphis and Mississippi State last met in 2022, when the Bulldogs won 49-23 in Starkville.
Mississippi State’s 2026 season opens Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU against Louisiana-Monroe at Davis Wade Stadium.
The football news came alongside a basketball update: Mississippi State will host Memphis in an exhibition game at Humphrey Coliseum on Oct. 23. The game will be open to fans, with tickets going on sale Aug. 26 for premium seating presale, Aug. 27 for season ticket holders and Aug. 28 for the general public.
That exhibition lands the day before Mississippi State football hosts Oklahoma.
The Bulldogs also announced another exhibition against Florida State, set for Oct. 10 in Pensacola, Florida.
Mississippi State has not yet released its full basketball schedule for the 2026-27 season.
In Other News...
Mississippi States 2026 Hope May Rest On One Young Quarterback
Mississippi State has spent the past two seasons trying to climb out of a deep SEC hole under Jeff Lebby, and the results have left little doubt about how much room still exists for growth. After back-to-back struggles in conference play, the Bulldogs are looking for a spark that can turn close losses into something better, and the conversation around the program is already shifting toward the next wave of talent.
Kamario Taylor is at the center of that hope. The talented young quarterback is expected to take over in 2026, and ESPNs Rece Davis recently pointed to him as a player who could help change the trajectory of the team. For Mississippi State, the question is whether Taylors development can give Lebby the kind of steady play the Bulldogs have been missing, because in a league this demanding, even a promising quarterback has to grow up fast. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Suddenly Has A Big Eligibility Fight On Defense
Mississippi States offseason just got pulled into a much bigger NCAA fight, one that could affect roster planning on defense well beyond this year. Former Bulldogs Jahron Manning and Malick Sylla have filed a lawsuit seeking an extra season of eligibility so they can play in 2026, pushing back against the NCAAs decision not to grant a fifth year to high school seniors from the 2022 class under its new age-based model.
For a program trying to keep its defensive depth chart steady, the timing matters almost as much as the legal issue itself. The case adds another layer of uncertainty for Mississippi State and other SEC schools already navigating roster rules, especially after the league announced a ban on adding professional players who have declared for drafts or signed pro contracts. [Read more 🡒]