Image Property of Mississippi State Athletics
SEC Basketball • Mens
administrator
Kellen Walker
Bulldogs To Face Competitive 2025-26 Non-Conference Schedule
After three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament, Mississippi State Men’s Basketball has rebuilt a winning culture in Starkville. This upcoming season, the Bulldogs have stacked its non-conference schedule with some tough competition once again.
Over the last three seasons under head coach Chris Jans, Mississippi State has fared very well in non-conference play during the regular season, accumulating a 35-4 combined record including a 11-2 non-conference regular season record versus major conferences schools from the ACC, BIG EAST, Big Ten, Big 12 and former Pac-12 conferences. Nine of those victories also have come on the road or a neutral floor.
The Bulldogs will take the court and open up the 2025-26 campaign at Humphrey Coliseum vs. North Alabama on Nov. 5. Five days later, State will travel all the way to Sioux Falls, S.D. for a neutral site battle with the Iowa State Cyclones of the Big 12. The Cyclones have a combined record of 54-18 over the past two seasons, including a Big 12 Tournament Championship in 2023-24. This match up will be a huge test for State early on.
After returning home for a Nov. 15 game against Southeastern Louisiana, The Bulldogs will hit the road again for the 2025 Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Mo., a four-team event. State will face Kansas State on Nov. 20 before playing either Nebraska or New Mexico the next day.
State then returns to Starkville for match ups against New Orleans and SMU to close out the month of November. The first couple weeks of December will feature a road contest vs. Georgia Tech on Dec. 3, a neutral site game on Dec. 7 in Tupelo, Miss. against San Francisco, and finally a trip to Salt Lake City to face Utah on December 13. Last season, State defeated the Utes in Tupelo, 78-73.
After the long road trip, The Bulldogs will be able to finish non-conference play at home with a three-game stand against Long Island (Dec. 16), Memphis (Dec. 20) and Alabama State (Dec. 29). State will have an opportunity to bolster a strong resume heading into SEC play.
