Mississippi State football 2022 schedule: TV, kickoff times for first 3 games, Egg Bowl

Mississippi Clarion Ledger

STARKVILLE — The opening portion of Mississippi State's 2022 football schedule will feature plenty of action under the lights.

The SEC announced Thursday kickoff times and TV slots for the opening three weeks along with the Egg Bowl.

MSU will open its season at home on Sept. 3 against Memphis. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

That'll be followed by a 10 p.m. kickoff Sept. 10 at Arizona on FS1 and a 5 p.m. kickoff Sept. 17 at LSU on ESPN.

The Egg Bowl will air on ESPN at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving (Nov. 24).

MSU hosts East Tennessee State prior to the Egg Bowl (Nov. 19). While a kickoff time hasn't been set, the game will be on ESPN+/SEC Network+.

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The first three weeks for Mississippi State will feature a plethora of storylines. State will host its part of a home-and-home against Memphis after an ugly loss at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium last September.

The Bulldogs fell to the Tigers 31-29. The game featured Calvin Austin's 94-yard punt return touchdown in which MSU's players believed the play was blown dead because of an official's signal. The SEC released a statement soon after the game agreeing with Mississippi State and acknowledging the crucial mistake by its officiating crew.

Oct 30, 2021; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach watches during the first quarter of the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi State's first road trip comes in Week 2 against Arizona. It's MSU's fourth consecutive season (excluding 2020) facing a Power 5 nonconference opponent.

Arizona was 1-11 last season with its lone win coming against Cal. The Wildcats have won five games in three seasons. Mike Leach went 4-2 against Arizona in his eight seasons at Washington State.

Mississippi State will be new LSU coach Brian Kelly's first SEC opponent in Week 3. Despite going 6-7 last season, the Tigers have the 13th-shortest odds (+5500) to win the national championship, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

This is the third straight year MSU and LSU open SEC play against each other with the road team winning the previous two. LSU won last season 28-25 after special teams miscues hurt Mississippi State again.

The Bulldogs' Nolan McCord missed a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth, with MSU trailing 21-10, Rodney Groce was called for roughing the punter. Instead of punting, LSU got the ball back and scored a touchdown three plays later.

Mississippi State football 2022 schedule

Sept. 3: vs. Memphis, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

Sept. 10: at Arizona, 10 p.m., FS1

Sept. 17: at LSU, 5 p.m., ESPN

Sept. 24: vs. Bowling Green

Oct. 1: vs. Texas A&M

Oct. 8: vs. Arkansas

Oct. 15: at Kentucky

Oct. 22: at Alabama

Nov. 5: vs. Auburn

Nov. 12: vs. Georgia

Nov. 19: vs. East Tennessee State

Nov. 24: at Ole Miss, 6 p.m.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.