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Two seasons have passed since Mississippi State football last made a bowl game.
The Bulldogs went 5-7 in 2023, the first season after coach Mike Leach’s death. Then, they regressed to 2-10 in 2024 in coach Jeff Lebby’s first season and didn't win an SEC game.
A four-win improvement is needed for MSU to return to a bowl game.
These are the four games that could determine Mississippi State’s bowl fate in 2025.
Mississippi State won’t be starting the season without a challenge. Southern Miss was 1-11 last season and hired Marshall’s Charles Huff as the new coach after he won the Sun Belt championship. With over 70 new players on the roster — many of whom transferred from Marshall — the Golden Eagles should be improved. Add in that this game is in Hattiesburg, and suddenly this isn’t a guaranteed win.
Starting 1-0 could be a nice confidence boost since Mississippi State didn’t have many of those last season. But lose to Southern Miss, and MSU could be looking at an 0-2 start with Week 2’s game against the reigning Big 12 champion.
The home opener at Davis Wade Stadium the next week is against Arizona State, which won the Big 12 to make the College Football Playoff. It’s a rematch of last season’s nonconference game, which the Sun Devils won 30-23 in Arizona.
While the Sun Devils return starting quarterback Sam Leavitt, they lost star running back Cam Skattebo, who torched MSU for 297 scrimmage yards. They are expected to be a good team again. With another difficult SEC schedule, winning this nonconference game could be crucial for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs will need to win at least three SEC games if they don’t start 4-0 in the nonconference portion with the other two games against Alcorn State and Northern Illinois.
Arkansas is the lowest-rated SEC team on Mississippi State's schedule in the USA TODAY preseason poll at No. 13. A lot can change before Nov. 1, but this is likely MSU’s most winnable conference game.
However, that was also a thought last season when the Razorbacks played at Mississippi State. Arkansas smoked Mississippi State 58-25 with Taylen Green passing for 314 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 98 yards and another touchdown. Green returns as Arkansas’ starting QB in 2025.
Just ahead of Arkansas in the USA TODAY SEC preseason poll is Missouri at No. 12. This is the second-to-last game of the regular season. If the season has gone well, MSU could possibly clinch a bowl berth in this game.
The Tigers went 10-3 last season, taking care of Mississippi State 39-20 in Starkville. They lost quarterback Brady Cook though and top wide receivers Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr., so they might take a step back in 2025.
MORE: Predicting Mississippi State baseball's starting lineup for Brian O'Connor in 2026 season
This and the Arkansas game are probably ones Mississippi State would prefer to play at home, but will still be pivot points in the schedule.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football schedule: Four games could determine a bowl
Continue reading...
The Bulldogs went 5-7 in 2023, the first season after coach Mike Leach’s death. Then, they regressed to 2-10 in 2024 in coach Jeff Lebby’s first season and didn't win an SEC game.
A four-win improvement is needed for MSU to return to a bowl game.
These are the four games that could determine Mississippi State’s bowl fate in 2025.
Aug. 30 at Southern Miss
Mississippi State won’t be starting the season without a challenge. Southern Miss was 1-11 last season and hired Marshall’s Charles Huff as the new coach after he won the Sun Belt championship. With over 70 new players on the roster — many of whom transferred from Marshall — the Golden Eagles should be improved. Add in that this game is in Hattiesburg, and suddenly this isn’t a guaranteed win.
Starting 1-0 could be a nice confidence boost since Mississippi State didn’t have many of those last season. But lose to Southern Miss, and MSU could be looking at an 0-2 start with Week 2’s game against the reigning Big 12 champion.
Sept. 6 vs. Arizona State
The home opener at Davis Wade Stadium the next week is against Arizona State, which won the Big 12 to make the College Football Playoff. It’s a rematch of last season’s nonconference game, which the Sun Devils won 30-23 in Arizona.
While the Sun Devils return starting quarterback Sam Leavitt, they lost star running back Cam Skattebo, who torched MSU for 297 scrimmage yards. They are expected to be a good team again. With another difficult SEC schedule, winning this nonconference game could be crucial for Mississippi State. The Bulldogs will need to win at least three SEC games if they don’t start 4-0 in the nonconference portion with the other two games against Alcorn State and Northern Illinois.
Nov. 1 at Arkansas
Arkansas is the lowest-rated SEC team on Mississippi State's schedule in the USA TODAY preseason poll at No. 13. A lot can change before Nov. 1, but this is likely MSU’s most winnable conference game.
However, that was also a thought last season when the Razorbacks played at Mississippi State. Arkansas smoked Mississippi State 58-25 with Taylen Green passing for 314 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 98 yards and another touchdown. Green returns as Arkansas’ starting QB in 2025.
Nov. 15 at Missouri
Just ahead of Arkansas in the USA TODAY SEC preseason poll is Missouri at No. 12. This is the second-to-last game of the regular season. If the season has gone well, MSU could possibly clinch a bowl berth in this game.
The Tigers went 10-3 last season, taking care of Mississippi State 39-20 in Starkville. They lost quarterback Brady Cook though and top wide receivers Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr., so they might take a step back in 2025.
MORE: Predicting Mississippi State baseball's starting lineup for Brian O'Connor in 2026 season
This and the Arkansas game are probably ones Mississippi State would prefer to play at home, but will still be pivot points in the schedule.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State football schedule: Four games could determine a bowl
Continue reading...
