Missouri’s first SEC test arrives Saturday night, and it comes with the Tigers carrying an unbeaten record into Starkville.
No. 21/19-ranked Mizzou will face RV/24-ranked Mississippi State on Sept. 26 at Davis Wade Stadium, with kickoff set for 6:45 p.m. Missouri enters at 3-0 after knocking off Troy last Saturday, its fourth straight season opening with three wins.
The Tigers have already handled their lone Power-conference game of the 2026 season, beating Kansas on Sept. 11.
Mississippi State is also 3-0, and the Bulldogs are already 1-0 in league play after winning at South Carolina last Saturday. Their other two victories came at home against Louisiana-Monroe and on the road against Minnesota.
The game will air on SEC Network. Matt Schumacker will handle play-by-play, Aaron Murray will serve as analyst, and Taylor Davis will report from the sideline. Fans can also stream the matchup on FUBO.
For radio listeners, Tiger Radio Network will carry the broadcast live on 1580 AM and 105.1 FM, with Sirius XM 81 also available. Mike Kelly will be on play-by-play, Howard Richards will analyze the action, and Chris Gervino will be on the sideline. Kelly is set to call his 400th straight football game on Saturday.
As of Thursday afternoon, secondary-market tickets for the game started at $44 on StubHub.
Missouri’s schedule rolls on from there with Florida coming to Columbia on Oct. 3, followed by Texas A&M, Ole Miss, an open date, Arkansas, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
In Other News...
Mizzou Faces An Early SEC Test Fans Already Fear Could Expose Them
Week 4 brings an early measuring-stick Saturday for Missouri, with the Tigers headed to Mississippi State in one of four ranked SEC matchups on a slate that will start sorting contenders from pretenders. The full board also includes Texas at Tennessee, giving the conference a loaded day of high-profile games that should say plenty about where the league hierarchy is headed, even if September still leaves room for plenty of movement.
For Missouri, the trip is less about headlines than it is about proof, because a road game like this tends to reveal whether a teams strengths travel and whether the pressure of SEC play changes the picture. The matchup has already drawn expert predictions and betting angles, but the real tension is simple enough: can the Tigers handle an opponent that gives them an honest test, or will this be the kind of game that leaves fans wondering what the ceiling actually is? [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces A Backfield Concern Right Before Week 4
Injury updates around the SEC already shaped up to be part of the Week 4 conversation on College GameDay, with ESPNs Pete Thamel laying out the status of several backs in the conference. Texas is expected to have Hollywood Smothers dress and try to go through an ankle injury, Ole Miss is bracing for the likely absence of Kewan Lacy because of a shoulder issue, and Floridas Eric Singleton Jr. is still headed toward a game-time call after his own ankle problem.
For Missouri, the attention turns to Ahmad Hardy, who has not practiced yet after surgery, leaving the Tigers to wait on a key piece as they move through the week. The timing matters because Missouri has already ruled him out for Saturdays game at Mississippi State, and the next step is about more than just pain tolerance, it is about whether he can get back on the field with enough ramp-up to be ready when the Tigers need him again. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Heads Into Another SEC Test With A New Lineup Problem
Missouri is heading into another SEC test with more shuffling to do on both sides of the ball. Defensive end Darris Smith was ruled out on the league availability and injury report for the game against Mississippi State, while star running back Ahmad Hardy and backup Malae Fonoti also showed up as out for the Tigers. It is the latest reminder that depth has become part of the week-to-week conversation as Missouri tries to keep its footing in conference play.
Smiths absence is especially notable because he had already been a key piece on the edge before getting hurt against Troy, and Missouri has to account for that loss while trying to steady a defense facing another physical opponent. Hardys status adds a different kind of pressure on the offense, since the Tigers are still waiting on his return timeline, and the backfield picture remains unsettled as Missouri looks for answers going into Saturday. [Read more 🡒]