Defending SEC Champions Set For Challenging Schedule In 2025

STARKVILLE – With just over a month remaining before the 2025 season begins, Mississippi State soccer has released its schedule for the upcoming campaign. The regular season will begin with the home opener on Aug. 14 against UT Martin.

Prior to the official start of the year, the Bulldogs will play a pair of exhibition matches against Mercer on Aug. 2 at home and at ULM on Aug. 9.

State is set to play 17 total matches with nine being contested at the MSU Soccer Field, which saw the school's single-game attendance record broken four times last fall. The home slate includes premier matchups national runner-up Wake Forest, conference rival Auburn and in-state rival Ole Miss for the annual Magnolia Cup match.

Eight teams on the schedule reached the NCAA Tournament last year, with five of those reaching the second round. Eight teams were ranked in the United Soccer Coaches' poll at least once last year with six spending at least one week among the top 15. Thirteen of the 17 squads are from Power Four programs and 41 percent of the schedule finished the 2024 season inside the top 50 of the final NCAA RPI.

"We're beyond excited to announce a competitive schedule that will challenge us and prepare us for success in the SEC," head coach Nick Zimmerman said. "Every match is an opportunity to grow, and we're looking forward to seeing our fans packing the pitch and bringing that Starkville energy all season long."

Following the home opener on Thursday, Aug. 14, MSU will host a pair of matches the following week. The Bulldogs welcome Jacksonville State on Aug. 21 and Wake Forest on Aug. 24 before hitting the road. To close out August, State will play at Baylor on Aug. 28 and head just up I-35 to meet Oklahoma State on Aug. 31.

September opens with a home match against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 4 and a road trip to South Alabama on Sept. 7 to conclude non-conference play.

In the SEC slate, MSU will host Tennessee (Sept. 12), Auburn (Sept. 21), Ole Miss (Oct. 2), Vanderbilt (Oct. 16) and Georgia (Oct. 26). The Bulldogs will travel to Texas (Sept. 18), Missouri (Sept. 26), Arkansas (Oct. 5), Florida (Oct. 10) and Alabama (Oct. 19).

For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."

Mississippi State University Athletics

Defending SEC Champions Set For Challenging Schedule In 2025

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