Quarterback Austin Simmons will lead No. 19 Mizzou into a Top 25 showdown against Mississippi State on Saturday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Mizzou Football – Gameday Info
Game No. 4 — #19 Missouri Tigers (3-0) at #24 Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-0)
Date/Time – September 26, 2026 – 6:45 pm
Location – Davis Wade Stadium — Starkville, MS
Watch — SEC Network
Listen — Learfield Sports/KTRS 550 AM
Live Stats — Mizzou Stat Broadcast
STARKVILLE, MS — A surprising matchup of ranked and unbeaten teams is what awaits the University of Missouri football team when it travels down to Starkvegas to take on Mississippi State in its Southeastern Conference opener on Saturday.
The Tigers are 3-0 and ranked No. 19 in the country after last week’s 27-17 win over Troy. Mississippi State is coming off a 41-34 come-from-behind victory over South Carolina in its SEC opener last week.
Missouri has been ranked all season and looked like it deserved to be all year, while Mississippi State is coming off a 3-7 season last year, but has surprised everyone with its thrilling play this year.
With its win over Troy, Mizzou improved to 3-0 for the fourth-straight season. It marks the third stretch in program history that the Tigers have opened 3-0 in at least four-consecutive seasons.
The win also extended MU’s regular-season non-conference winning streak to 16 games as the Tigers improved to 23-5 overall against non-con opponents under head coach Eli Drinkwitz. With a win over the Bulldogs, it would mark the second time in program history starting the season 4-0 in at least four-consecutive seasons.
Mizzou QB Austin Simmons has thrown for 635 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions in the Tigers’ first three games this season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Players to Watch: Quarterback Austin Simmons has been everything Mizzou wanted and needed under center so far this season. The senior from Miami has thrown for 635 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception, while running back Jamal Roberts has rushed for 300 yards and three scores of his own.
The Missouri defense could be the biggest challenge Mississippi State has faced so far. The Tigers are allowing just 258.7 total yards per game and 17.3 points per game, while giving up only 87.7 rushing yards per contest.
Linebackers Nicholas Rodriguez and Robert Woodyard, along with safety Santana Banner, have been the leaders, while ends Daeden Hopkins and Donta Simpson have combined for five quarterback sacks in the Tigers’ first three games.
Mizzou defenders Daeden Hopkins (10) and Jason Dowell (92) celebrate making a stop in Saturday’s game against Troy. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Quarterback Kamario Taylor has been one of the biggest reasons for Mississippi State’s hot start.
Taylor has thrown for 832 yards and 11 touchdowns with only one interception through three games, while also adding 178 rushing yards. Overall, he has accounted for 1,010 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs are averaging 47 points and 544.7 total yards per game, ranking second nationally in total offense. Running back Da’Marion Bothwell has also been productive, rushing for 280 yards and two touchdowns.
Mizzou RB Jamal Roberts steps through the end zone, after scoring a touchdown in the Tigers’ win over Troy, Saturday night in Columbia. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Up Next: Mizzou will be back at home next week, with a matchup against current No. 21 Florida. The Gators are hosting their home opener against No. 4 Ole Miss on Saturday.
Next week’s game at Faurot Field will kick off at 2:30 p.m., and will be televised nationally on either ESPN, ABC, or the SEC Network.
2026 MIZZOU TIGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3, 2026 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Home | Arkansas- Pine Bluff | Faurot Field |   | W, 54-14 (1-0) |
| September 11, 2026 (Friday) | 7 pm | Away | Kansas | Lawrence, Kan. / David Booth Memorial Stadium |  | W, 38-21 (2-0) |
| September 19, 2026 (Saturday) | 6 pm | Home | Troy | Faurot Field |  | W, 27-17 (3-0) |
| September 26, 2026 (Saturday) | 6:45 pm | Away | #24 Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. / Davis Wade Stadium | | |
| October 3, 2026 (Saturday) | 2:30 pm | Home | Florida | Faurot Field | ||
| October 10, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Texas A&M | Faurot Field | ||
| October 17, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Ole Miss | Oxford, Miss. / Vaught Hemingway Stadium | ||
| October 31, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. / Razorback Stadium | ||
| November 7, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Texas | Faurot Field | ||
| November 14, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Georgia | Athens, Ga. / Sanford Stadium | ||
| November 21, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Kentucky | Faurot Field | ||
| November 28, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Oklahoma | Faurot Field |