The league office released the conference schedule on Thursday, and it has the Bulldogs appearing in six SEC Network games, one on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU and two on both CSS and FSN. In addition, three games will appear on either ESPN or ESPN2, with that determination coming as those particular games approach.
"As always, it's a very challenging SEC schedule," 14th-year MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. "I think the SEC has a chance to be as good as any league in the country this year. There are no easy games, home or away. You've got to be ready every night."
For the fifth time in the last six years, the Bulldogs will open SEC action on the road, this time at Arkansas on Jan. 7 in an 8 p.m. game televised by CSS. MSU then plays its first of two Thursday affairs at Humphrey Coliseum against Tennessee on Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. on either ESPN or ESPN2. Then on Jan. 14, it's back at home against Alabama at 3 p.m. on the SEC Network, followed by a road trip to Ole Miss on Jan. 18 in an 8 p.m. showdown aired on CSS.
The Bulldogs close out the month of January starting at Vanderbilt on Jan. 21 (6 p.m., ESPN2), followed by a home game with LSU on Jan. 25 (7 p.m., SEC Network) before closing out at Florida on Jan. 28 (12:30 p.m., SEC Network).
Mississippi State kick starts the month of February with three-consecutive games at the Hump, beginning with Auburn on Feb. 4 (3 p.m., SEC Network), followed by Ole Miss as part of Rivalry Week on Feb. 9 (6 p.m., ESPN or ESPN 2) and Georgia on Feb. 11 (12:30 p.m., SEC Network).
From there, the Bulldogs hit the road for two-straight games, starting with a trip to LSU on Feb. 14 (8 p.m., ESPNU) and wrapping up at Auburn on Feb. 18 (7 p.m., FSN).
Then it's back home for a Super Tuesday ESPN showdown with Kentucky at 8 p.m. on Feb. 21 before going back on the road at Alabama on Feb. 25 (5 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2) and at South Carolina on Feb. 29 ( 7 p.m., SEC Network).
MSU concludes the regular season on March 3 against Arkansas at Humphrey Coliseum at 4 p.m. in a game televised by FSN, while the SEC Tournament is scheduled for March 8-11 at the Superdome in New Orleans.
2012 Mississippi State SEC Schedule
Date, Day, Opponent, Time, TV
J7, Saturday, @Arkansas, 8 p.m., CSS
J12, Thursday, Tennessee, 8 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
J14, Saturday, Alabama, 3 p.m., SEC Network
J18, Wednesday, @Ole Miss, 8 p.m., CSS
J21, Saturday, @Vanderbilt, 6 p.m., ESPN2
J25, Wednesday, LSU, 7 p.m., SEC Network
J28, Saturday, @Florida, 12:30 p.m., SEC Network
F4, Saturday, Auburn, 3 p.m., SEC Network
F9, Thursday, Ole Miss, 6 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
F11, Saturday, Georgia, 12:30 p.m., SEC Network
F14, Tuesday, @LSU, 8 p.m., ESPNU
F18, Saturday, @Auburn, 7 p.m., FSN
F21, Tuesday, Kentucky, 8 p.m., ESPN
F25, Saturday, @Alabama, 5 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
F29, Wednesday, @South Carolina, 7 p.m., SEC Network
M3, Saturday, Arkansas, 4 p.m,. FSN
- All Times Are Centreal
