Spring sports are soon to be in full swing at Mississippi State. Both men's and women's basketball are firmly in the NCAA Tournament hunt. Softball season is just one week away, and Bulldog baseball returns a week after that. And it won't be too much longer before Mississippi State football starts spring practices, gearing up for year two under head coach Jeff Lebby.
With the spring athletics season approaching, we now have the dates for some of the headline events for spring time in Starkville.
Mississippi State football 2025 Spring Game set for April 19
Mississippi State football's second spring game of the Jeff Lebby era is scheduled for Saturday, April 19. That same weekend, Bulldog baseball will host Florida for a big SEC series. Also happening in Starkville on that Saturday will be the Cotton District Arts Festival.
Interestingly though, this is not Super Bulldog Weekend...
Super Bulldog Weekend scheduled for May 1-4 in Starkville
Traditionally, Super Bulldog Weekend has been scheduled so that football's spring game is taking place on campus the same weekend as a major SEC series for the Diamond Dawgs. In fact, the event specifically began as a way to draw bigger crowds to the spring game during leaner years of Bulldog football. If fans are already in town for baseball, they're more likely to head to Davis Wade and get a glimpse at the football team.
However, Mississippi State has decided to change things up for 2025. They're holding Super Bulldog Weekend two weeks after the spring game, from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 4. Softball will play a series with rival Ole Miss Thursday through Saturday while baseball will host Kentucky Friday through Sunday.
Track and Field's "Maroon and White Invite" will be held Thursday and Friday, and there's a chance for NCAA Tennis Regionals on the weekend as well. Finally, the Starkville Derby will take place in the Cotton District on that Saturday.
So why not have the spring game as a part of Super Bulldog Weekend? I imagine the rise in popularity of events such as the Cotton District Arts Festival and the Starkville Derby make it tough logistically to have everything going on at once. Plus, spreading out the action makes it more likely that less-heralded sports could see bigger crowds than usual. Regardless of why, both weekends are sure to be full of excitement.