Oklahoma’s first trip to Starkville now has a start time.
The SEC announced Monday that the Sooners’ first-ever meeting with Mississippi State will kick off Oct. 24 at 2:30 p.m. CT at Davis Wade Stadium. The game will air on either ESPN or SEC Network.
It’s a new matchup on the field, but there’s plenty of familiar ground around it. Jeff Lebby, now in his third season as Mississippi State’s head coach, will face Brent Venables and Oklahoma for the first time since leaving his role as Sooners offensive coordinator after the 2023 season. Lebby handled OU’s offense and coached quarterbacks during Venables’ first two years in Norman, guiding a team that went 6-7 in 2022 and then 10-2 in the regular season in 2023 before taking the Mississippi State job.
Lebby’s first head-coaching opportunity has been a bumpy climb. He is 11-19 overall at Mississippi State, including a 2-10 debut and a 5-8 record last season.
This year, though, the Bulldogs have opened 4-1 and picked up a top 25 win against Missouri. Mississippi State is ranked 16th in the latest AP poll, and quarterback Kamario Taylor leads the SEC in passing.
The Bulldogs’ roster also carries a few ties back to Norman. Former Oklahoma players on Mississippi State’s team include receiver Zion Ragins, who has 11 catches for 184 yards and four touchdowns, defensive back Kendel Dolby with 22 tackles, and offensive lineman Isaiah Dent.
Mississippi State is coming off its first defeat of the season, a 56-23 loss at home to Alabama in Week 5. The Bulldogs had a bye in Week 6 and will return to action this weekend against No. 22 LSU in Baton Rouge before hosting Oklahoma.
The Sooners will get there after a big night in Dallas. Oklahoma followed its 27-24 upset of then-No.
1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry by returning home for its SEC opener at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Next up for OU is No.
15 Kentucky on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network.
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