It's one of those classic signs that the college football season is just around the corner. Kickoff times for the 2025 season are beginning to be announced. Earlier this month, we learned that Mississippi State football would conclude it's regular season with a Black Friday Egg Bowl kicking off at 11:00 AM. Now, we know the kickoff times and TV broadcasts for the Bulldogs' first three games of the season.
Mississippi State will open the season with an early kick on the road before returning to Starkville for consecutive night games.
Early kickoff for season-opening in-state battle
Mississippi State travels about three hours south to open up the 2025 season, taking on in-state foe Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. And any Bulldog fans making the trip to the Pine Belt will need to be prepared for what's sure to be a scorcher. MSU and the Golden Eagles are scheduled to kickoff at 11:00 AM CT on August 30, the first time the Bulldogs are starting the season with an early kick since 2019. The game will air on ESPN.
Despite the early start, this should be a fun atmosphere. It's State's first trip to USM since 2015, and it's USM's first game under new HC Charles Huff. There'll certainly be juice in the stadium. Of course State would prefer it to be a sleepy atmosphere, ideally one they can get in and out of quickly with a 1-0 start. They can't exactly afford to begin this season in ugly fashion after last year.
Bulldogs' home-opener comes under the lights against Big 12 foe
In Week 2, State returns home to Starkville and gets an incredibly important early season game. Arizona State makes their return trip in the home-and-home series after defeating MSU in Tempe last season, and it'll be a night game at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs and Sun Devils will kickoff at 6:30 PM CT on September 6, with the game airing on ESPN2.
Truthfully, after State had to play at 9:30 PM their time last season in Tempe, I wouldn't have minded kicking this one off early to put ASU in a terrible body-clock situation with the heat and humidity barring down on them (their dry heat has nothing on a Southern summer!). But given that it's the home opener and big game, you want the best atmosphere possible. And MSU is unlikely to get many night games this season, so you want to make sure you get a big one in early.
Mississippi State gets night game for FCS matchup
State will get two-straight night games early in the season. In Week 3 they play their annual FCS game, which will come against an in-state opponent for the first time since 2013. The Bulldogs host Alcorn State September 13 at 5:00 PM CT. This will be MSU's "streaming only" game for the 2025 season, as it will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.