Report: Mississippi State to play North Alabama as part of 2028 football schedule

As Zach Arnett settles in for his first season as Mississippi State head coach, the Bulldogs are already looking a few years down the line. The program has added an opponent to its 2028 schedule, according to FBSchedules.com.

North Alabama will make the trip to Starkville in five years, per FBSchedules’ Kevin Kelley. According to public records, Mississippi State will pay the program $525,000 for the Sept. 2, 2028 matchup. However, the game could also move to Nov. 18, 2028 if MSU decides to do so — or if the SEC decides to move to a nine-game conference schedule.

Mississippi State and North Alabama have never faced each other.

The Lions, an FCS team from the United Athletic Conference, struggled mightily last year with a 1-10 overall record. The program ultimately decided to move on from Chris Willis and brought in Brent Dearmon from Middle Tennessee as its next head coach.

Mississippi State is taking on a new look in 2023

As for Mississippi State, Arnett moved up to head coach after the sudden death of Mike Leach over the offseason. The Bulldogs became known for their Air Raid-style offense under Leach, but they’ll now move to a pro-style attack this year under new coordinator Kevin Barbay.

As he settles in, Barbay said the exciting part of the offseason program has been putting the offense in place. He noted the amount of talent Mississippi State has and sounds excited to showcase the new look when the season gets underway.

“I don’t think you ever stop installing,” Barbay said. “That’s the fun part of this offense. The creative minds and putting everything together and the different personnel groups and the formations. The challenge is you never stop installing. You just kind of keep growing it. Once you get good at something, then you figure out what’s the next presentation. How do we complement that? How do guys stop that?”

Mississippi State passed on 68.3% of its total plays in 2022, which ranked 10th in the FBS in air yards per game. Quarterback Will Rogers flourished in the Air Raid and put up big numbers again last year with 3,974 yards passing, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Rogers returns in 2023 and looks to once again play a big part in what Mississippi State hopes to accomplish offensively this season. However, the Bulldogs will also hope to get senior running back Jo’Quavious Marks more involved as Barbay institutes his new scheme.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.