Mississippi State has found its guy moving forward after naming Jeff Lebby the new head coach of the Bulldogs.
Lebby comes over from Oklahoma, who ironically, are following him to the Southeastern Conference. But is OU part of the first schedule for the Lebby era in Starkville? And who else will the Bulldogs face? Here’s an early look at the 2024 gauntlet.
Mississippi State 2024 Football Schedule
- vs. Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Saturday, August 31, 6:00 p.m. ET - at Arizona State Sun Devils
Saturday, September 7, 10:30 p.m. ET - vs. Toledo Rockets
Saturday, September 14, 7:30 p.m. ET - vs. Florida Gators
Saturday, September 21, TBA - at Texas Longhorns
Saturday, September 28, TBA - at Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday, October 12, TBA - vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Saturday, October 19, TBA - vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Saturday, October 26, TBA - vs. UMass Minutemen
Saturday, November 2, TBA - at Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday, November 9, time TBA - vs. Missouri Tigers
Saturday, November 23, time TBA - at Ole Miss Rebels
Friday, November 29, 3:30 p.m. ET
Luckily for Lebby, he doesn’t have to be a rookie head coach dealing with preparing for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The longtime SEC West division foes will not play each other in 2024.
Meanwhile, LSU and fellow state of Alabama rival Auburn were also left off the Bulldogs’ schedule.
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Lebby won’t be getting the Sooners either, as Oklahoma was left off. However, he will game plan against a familiar foe from his Norman days — Texas. The Longhorns will welcome back Lebby to Austin in an SEC battle.
The non-conference slate features three games at Davis Wade Stadium and one trip out west.
Lebby will make his coaching debut versus Eastern Kentucky. The Colonels, though, will be no FCS pushover after hanging around with Kentucky in their 28-17 loss in Lexington this season.
The only time Mississippi State hits the road before SEC play will be to the desert of Arizona. They’ll face Arizona State and incoming second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham in a game that becomes SEC versus the Big 12.
For the first time since 1991, the SEC will not feature divisions in the conference. The top two teams will square off at the end of the year in the SEC Championship Game to culminate the season. With Oklahoma and Texas in the conference this season, the 2024 campaign truly means more.