STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State football team will have only Charleston Southern on its mind the next time it takes the practice field.
The MSU football team will conclude its preseason program this morning with a practice that will end what MSU coach Dan Mullen called a “transition week.” Mullen is giving the players a long weekend to see their families before returning to campus to prepare for MSU’s season opener at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville.
“Still teaching, still good on good, but work in some scout team and game planning in that time,” Mullen said.
Positive review of preseason schedule
The week leading up to the game against Charleston Southern ends what was MSU’s longest preseason under Mullen.
When practice started July 25, Mullen said the schedule was designed with more off days for the players in mind, but all parts of the program would have to come together.
All the reviews have been positive.
“The players enjoyed it, the coaches thought it was beneficial to learning, but most importantly, talking to our trainers and our strength staff: least number of injuries we’ve had, least number of soft tissue injuries we’ve had, dehydration, any of that stuff because of the amount of time and potential to recover,” Mullen said. “There’s time to learn. That’s why they don’t teach biochemistry in three weeks.”
Coaches honor Fitzgerald, Rankin
Just as the media did at Southeastern Conference Media Days in July, the SEC coaches named MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald and offensive lineman Martinas Rankin to their second-team All-SEC preseason team.
College Football News also named Rankin a second-team preseason All-American.
Thomas emerging at tight end
When Fitzgerald sees tight end Jordan Thomas take off on a pass route, he isn’t reminded of a tight end.
“He looks like a tackle running a 4.4 40(-yard dash) down the field,” Fitzgerald said.
That speed could be what Mullen said has separated Thomas, a 280-pound senior, from a pack at tight end that includes Justin Johnson, Farrod Green, and Dontea Jones.
“Jordan Thomas at times has come along a little better, but he’s up and down,” Mullen said. “We have to see the consistency out of him.”
Troy series scheduled
Troy announced Wednesday morning a home-and-home series with MSU for 2026 and 2027. The Trojans will visit the Bulldogs in 2026 before MSU’s return trip to Troy in 2027.
“As we continue to position Troy as one of the top Group of Five programs in the country, these types of series will be crucial to our success,” Troy Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain said in a statement. “While these games are a few years down the road, we are excited about where we are heading as a football program and an athletics department.”
MSU also has a home-and-home series against Minnesota set for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. MSU will play at Minnesota in 2026 and play host to the Golden Gophers in 2027.
The 2027 game will be MSU’s first trip to Troy since 2012, when MSU survived a second-half rally to beat the Trojans 30-24. MSU leads the series with Troy 4-1. The loss came in the first meeting in 2001.
The announcement comes weeks after MSU renewed its series against Southern Mississippi with games in 2019, 2023, and 2024.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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