Mississippi State Announces SEC Schedule

STARKVILLE, Miss. - With the Southeastern Conference's new mega deal with ESPN, all of Mississippi State's league games for the 2009-10 season are guaranteed to be televised, with eight appearing on either CBS, ESPN or ESPN2.

On Thursday, the league office officially announced its conference slate for all 12 foes, and it has the Bulldogs opening on the road at archrival Ole Miss on Jan. 9 in a 12:30 p.m. tilt televised regionally by the syndicated ESPN Network. MSU, under the direction of 12th-year coach Rick Stansbury, then makes its home debut on Thursday, Jan. 14 against Arkansas on ESNPU.

Two days later, the Dawgs host Georgia on either ESPN or ESPN2. There are also two other games - Arkansas (Jan. 28) and home against Ole Miss (Feb. 11) - that will appear on either ESPN or ESPN2.

Mississippi State is assured to appear on ESPN at home against Kentucky (Feb. 16) for a Super Tuesday showdown, at South Carolina (Feb. 27) and back at home for the regular-season finale against Tennessee (March 6) in a rematch of last year's SEC Tournament finals.

Mississippi State will also be on CBS Jan. 23 at Alabama, as well as on Fox Sports Net at the Hump against Auburn (Feb. 13) and on CSS against Alabama (Feb. 24).

As for the remainder of the schedule, MSU has five additional outings on the regional ESPN Network, home vs. LSU (Jan. 30), at Vanderbilt (Feb. 3), at Florida (Feb. 6) at LSU (Feb. 20) and at Auburn (March 3).

"Like always, when you get to conference plays, it's always challenging," Stansbury said. "Like most years, the SEC, from top to bottom, will be one of the most competitive leagues in the country. It's also exciting to know with the new TV package, every SEC game will be televised."

The remainder of Mississippi State's 2009-10 schedule will be announced at a later date.