STARKVILLE — Mike Leach’s debut in the maroon and white may come sooner than originally planned.
According to a source within the Mississippi State Athletic program, there’s a “90 percent” chance the Bulldogs’ season opener against New Mexico will be moved from Saturday, Sept. 5 to Thursday, Sept. 3. An official announcement is expected in the near future.
247Sports’ David Murray first reported the news.
MSU last opened the season on a Thursday night in 2011 against Memphis. The Bulldogs downed the Tigers 59-14 at the Liberty Bowl that day.
As for Leach, his lone Thursday night season opener came in a 30-6 win over Brigham Young in Provo, Utah during the 2012 campaign — his inaugural year at Washington State.
MSU’s full schedule — including the potential shift of the New Mexico game — will be as follows:
Thursday Sept. 3: vs. New Mexico
Saturday Sept. 12: at North Carolina State
Saturday Sept. 19: vs. Arkansas
Saturday Sept. 26: vs. Tulane
Saturday Oct. 3: vs. Texas A&M
Saturday Oct. 10: BYE WEEK
Saturday Oct. 17: at Alabama
Saturday Oct. 24: at LSU
Saturday Oct. 31: vs. Auburn
Saturday Nov. 7: vs. Missouri
Saturday Nov. 14: at Kentucky
Saturday Nov. 21: vs. Alabama A&M
Thursday Nov. 26: at Ole Miss
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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