2023 Mississippi State football schedule: When is MSU vs. Arizona Wildcats?

The second game on the 2023 Mississippi State football schedule features an intriguing matchup against a team that challenged the Bulldogs a bit back in 2022.

Zach Arnett and the Mississippi State football team will have an interesting challenge in week two. Sandwiched between two contests against Louisiana teams is when the Mississippi State Bulldogs get the pleasure of welcoming the Arizona Wildcats to Starkville on September 9 for a non-conference showdown.

Of course, this being the second game of the season means that MSU will meet with the Wildcats after the Bulldogs host the Southeastern Louisiana Lions (and before State gets to take on the LSU Tigers).

MSU and Arizona have only played each other once prior to this. Last season’s road trip out to Tucson was the first ever meeting between the Bulldogs and Wildcats on the gridiron. Now this will be the first time the Wildcats have made their way to Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville.

This provides MSU an excellent Power 5 test before the Bulldogs face the LSU Tigers.

2023 Mississippi State football schedule: Bulldogs vs. Arizona Wildcats

• Who: Mississippi State Bulldogs, coached by Zach Arnett, vs. the Arizona Wildcats, coached by Jedd Fisch
• What: Second game of MSU’s 2023 season
• When: Saturday, September 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT
• Where: Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field in Starkville, Mississippi

Arnett and the Bulldogs are bringing back a ton of talent from the team that beat Arizona by 22 points in Tucson, but it stands to reason that Fisch and his Wildcats are looking to build upon the success that they found last season.

This matchup comes at an interesting point for both programs. Mississippi State will be focused on finding ways to continue to elevate from last season’s nine-win campaign. Meanwhile, Arizona is looking to prove that the Wildcats belong and deserve to make it to a bowl game.

While this isn’t the most important contest ever, it’d be pretty significant (in very bad ways) if MSU didn’t end up coming away with a win here.