Friday, September 11
Oxford, Miss.
7 p.m.
Mississippi State
at
Ole Miss
Magnolia Cup Kicks Off Soccer’s SEC Slate
September 10, 2026 | Soccer
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State opens SEC play at Ole Miss on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. CT. State will look to claim the Magnolia Cup for the seventh year in a row, extending the longest winning streak by either school in the rivalry's history, when the match kicks off on SEC Network+.
The programs enter Friday night a combined 13-2-0 (.867), which is the highest combined winning percentage entering the game in the history of the rivalry. This year's meeting will also be the first time since the first season of the two programs in 1995 that both teams are led by first-year head coaches. State won the 1955 meeting, 1-0, in Oxford.
The last time the Magnolia Cup was MSU's SEC opener was in 2014, when Ole Miss won, 1-0, in Starkville. The Bulldogs have won four consecutive SEC openers dating back to 2022.
While State already boasts the longest winning streak in the rivalry's history, the Bulldogs are looking to set a new record for Magnolia Cup retention with a win or a tie. Ole Miss retained the cup for seven consecutive years (2013-2019) before the Bulldogs' current run, but that stretch included two ties.
During the current winning streak, four of six games have been decided by one goal and the game-winner has come from the penalty spot twice. However, the Bulldogs have not allowed a goal to Ole Miss since 2021.
Welcome To The Rivalry: This year's meeting will be the first time since the first season of the two programs in 1995 that both teams are led by first-year head coaches.
Commanding The Corner: State ranks 10th nationally and rank third in the SEC, averaging 8.43 corners per game. Dating back to last year, MSU has held opponents to fewer than five corners in 12 of its last 14 matches.
Swissy Shoots: Kyli Switalski has put 10 of 14 shots on target for a .714 shots on goal percentage that ranks 11th nationally and second in the SEC.
Slim Shooting: State's 4.9 shots allowed per game would be a school record and ranks second in the SEC behind only Auburn (4.7).
Head Coach: Todd Shulenberger | Record at OM: 7-1-0 (1st Year) | Career Record: 120-68-34 (12th Year)
The programs enter Friday night a combined 13-2-0 (.867), which is the highest combined winning percentage entering the game in the history of the rivalry. This year's meeting will also be the first time since the first season of the two programs in 1995 that both teams are led by first-year head coaches. State won the 1955 meeting, 1-0, in Oxford.
The last time the Magnolia Cup was MSU's SEC opener was in 2014, when Ole Miss won, 1-0, in Starkville. The Bulldogs have won four consecutive SEC openers dating back to 2022.
While State already boasts the longest winning streak in the rivalry's history, the Bulldogs are looking to set a new record for Magnolia Cup retention with a win or a tie. Ole Miss retained the cup for seven consecutive years (2013-2019) before the Bulldogs' current run, but that stretch included two ties.
During the current winning streak, four of six games have been decided by one goal and the game-winner has come from the penalty spot twice. However, the Bulldogs have not allowed a goal to Ole Miss since 2021.
Kicking Off
Our State: Mississippi State has retained possession of the Magnolia Cup for the last six years with six straight wins, the longest winning streak by either school in the history of the rivalry. The Bulldogs have scored first in every match of the current streak and have not allowed a goal to Ole Miss since the 52nd minute of the 2021 meeting a span of 399:58.Welcome To The Rivalry: This year's meeting will be the first time since the first season of the two programs in 1995 that both teams are led by first-year head coaches.
Commanding The Corner: State ranks 10th nationally and rank third in the SEC, averaging 8.43 corners per game. Dating back to last year, MSU has held opponents to fewer than five corners in 12 of its last 14 matches.
Swissy Shoots: Kyli Switalski has put 10 of 14 shots on target for a .714 shots on goal percentage that ranks 11th nationally and second in the SEC.
Slim Shooting: State's 4.9 shots allowed per game would be a school record and ranks second in the SEC behind only Auburn (4.7).
About Ole Miss (7-1-0, 0-0-0 SEC)
Rankings: IWSOC – NR | TopDrawerSoccer – NRHead Coach: Todd Shulenberger | Record at OM: 7-1-0 (1st Year) | Career Record: 120-68-34 (12th Year)
Series History
Overall: 12-15-5 | Current Streak: Won 6 | Home: 7-5-3 | Away: 5-8-2 | Neutral: 0-2-0 | Last Meeting: Oct. 2, 2025, MSU 2-0Notables
The Rebels have posted six shutouts this year including five in their last six matches. Ole Miss has not conceded a goal in 284:17. Six different players have scored a game-winning goal. Similar to State, Ole Miss hired a new head coach in the offseason that was the winningest coach in program history at their prior school. Todd Shulenberger won 113 matches in 11 years at Washington State and took the Cougars to the College Cup in 2019. Of Ole Miss' 17 newcomers, only three are true freshmen. Eight of those newcomers played under Shulenberger at Washington State last fall.Next Up
State hosts No. 23/NR Florida on Friday, Sept. 18 for its home SEC opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on X, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSOC."
Players Mentioned
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