Look, if you’re trying to keep up with the mississippi state men's basketball schedule, you probably already know that the "Hump" is where dreams go to die for visiting teams. But honestly? This 2025-26 season is a weird one. It’s been a total rollercoaster. One minute we’re beating Texas in Austin—yeah, that happened in a 101-98 overtime thriller—and the next, we’re dropping a tough one to Kentucky.
Coach Chris Jans has this team playing that signature "dentist office" defense where everything is painful for the opponent, but the SEC is just a gauntlet this year. You can't blink. If you do, you miss a Tuesday night game that suddenly decides whether or not the Bulldogs are locks for the Big Dance.
The Meat of the SEC Grind
The back half of the mississippi state men's basketball schedule is where things get really spicy. We’ve already seen the Bulldogs handle Oklahoma at home and survive that wild night in Austin. But look at what’s coming up.
Right now, the team is staring down a brutal stretch in late January and February. You’ve got Texas A&M on the road on January 21, and then Vanderbilt comes to Starkville on January 24. People sort of overlook Vandy sometimes, but in this league? No chance. After that, it’s a two-game road trip to LSU and Missouri.
If you're planning your weekends, here is how the remaining home slate looks at Humphrey Coliseum:
📖 Related: UConn Huskies Men's Basketball: What Most People Get Wrong
- Saturday, January 24: Vanderbilt at 5 p.m.
- Saturday, February 7: Arkansas at 11 a.m. (set those alarms early)
- Wednesday, February 11: Tennessee at 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 18: Auburn at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, February 28: Missouri at 12 p.m.
- Saturday, March 7: Georgia at 2:30 p.m.
The Arkansas game is going to be massive. John Calipari bringing the Razorbacks into Starkville? The atmosphere is going to be absolutely toxic in the best way possible. Expect that 11 a.m. tip to feel like a midnight rave.
Why the Non-Conference Record Matters Now
You might've forgotten those November and December games, but they're the only reason State is in the conversation right now. Jans always schedules tough. We saw them go to Sioux Falls and fight Iowa State, and then there was that Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City.
Sure, the losses to Kansas State and New Mexico hurt at the time. They felt like missed opportunities. But then the Bulldogs turned around and beat Georgia Tech on the road and took down a really good Memphis team in Starkville. That win over Memphis on December 20 (71-66) is looking like a "Gold Star" on the resume as we head toward March.
The Josh Hubbard Factor
You can't talk about the mississippi state men's basketball schedule without talking about the kid from Madison-Ridgeland Academy. Josh Hubbard is basically a human microwave. When he gets hot, the schedule doesn't matter because he can carry the team over anyone.
👉 See also: What Was the Score of the LSU Game: The Heartbreak at the PMAC
We saw him go nuclear in the Texas game. But the supporting cast is actually what makes this year's schedule manageable. You've got transfers like Jayden Epps and Achor Achor providing veteran leadership. Then you have the "Twin Towers" setup with Quincy Ballard and Gai Chol patrolling the paint. It’s a weird mix of elite guard play and massive size that Chris Jans has assembled.
Key Road Tests Looming
The SEC office didn't do the Bulldogs many favors with the road draw. Visiting Bud Walton Arena or Rupp Arena is never fun, but the February 25 trip to Alabama is the one everyone has circled.
Tuscaloosa is never a friendly place for the Maroon and White. Considering State lost the first meeting at home 82-97, the return trip is a huge chance for a "quadrant 1" revenge win. Then you finish the road schedule at Florida on March 3 before coming home for the finale against Georgia.
The March Path
Everything leads to Nashville. The SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena runs from March 11 to March 15. State has this weirdly consistent streak of winning at least one game in the conference tournament for eight straight years.
If they keep playing the way they did against Oklahoma (72-53 win), they won't just be playing for a trophy in Nashville; they'll be playing for seeding. Most bracketologists currently have the Bulldogs hovering around a 7 or 8 seed, but a strong finish against the likes of Auburn and Tennessee could easily push them into that 5-seed territory.
What you should do next:
If you're planning to attend a game, check the official ticket office immediately. The Ole Miss home game already sold out, and the Arkansas game is trending that way. Also, keep an eye on the TV designations; several of the February games are "flex" starts between ESPN and ESPN2, so the exact broadcast won't be locked in until about a week prior.
✨ Don't miss: The Bear Down Chicago Bears Fight Song Lyrics and Why Every Note Still Hits
Monitor the injury report for Achor Achor and Kanye Clary, as depth in the frontcourt is going to be the deciding factor when the schedule hits the Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday grind in February.