Thursday, October 15
Starkville
6 p.m.
Mississippi State
vs
Oklahoma
Ranked Bulldogs Welcome Oklahoma For First Time
October 14, 2026 | Soccer
STARKVILLE โ For the first time ever, Mississippi State will welcome Oklahoma to the MSU Soccer Field on Thursday night. Kickoff between the Bulldogs and the Sooners is set for 6 p.m. CT.
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State enters the matchup ranked in the TopDrawerSoccer poll (No. 23), marking the first time in head coach Kevin O'Brien's career that he has led a team ranked in either national poll. The Bulldogs are currently tied for fifth in the SEC standings on 10 points. The Sooners are one of three teams tied for seventh on nine.
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As things stand, 12 points is the line to earn a first-round bye at the SEC Tournament, and a win could put the Bulldogs firmly in that conversation.
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Thursday night is MSU's Kick or Treat match with children encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. All kids in costume will be welcomed onto the field to greet the team as it takes the field before the national anthem. Halftime will see a costume contest at midfield, and Bully's Kids Club members can participate in pumpkin painting.
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Deck Of Cards: State's last game saw a combined nine cards handed out, which broke the MSU Soccer Field record, and both teams received a red. As a result, the Bulldogs will be without starting centerback and minutes leader Ashley Tutas on Thursday night.
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Back In The Top 25: Nearly a year to the date of their last appearance, the Bulldogs are back in the TopDrawerSoccer Top 25, checking in at No. 23 this week.
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On The Front Foot: The Bulldogs have only trailed for 103:56 this season (8.9 percent of play) and have never trailed in an SEC game.
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Bang-Bang: State has scored a pair of goals less than six minutes apart five times this year. Over the last 10 years, MSU has done so 22 times in 21 matches, going 19-2-0.
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Head Coach: Matt Mott | Record at OU: 37-25-9 (4th Year) | Career Record: 176-122-41 (17th Year)
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State enters the matchup ranked in the TopDrawerSoccer poll (No. 23), marking the first time in head coach Kevin O'Brien's career that he has led a team ranked in either national poll. The Bulldogs are currently tied for fifth in the SEC standings on 10 points. The Sooners are one of three teams tied for seventh on nine.
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As things stand, 12 points is the line to earn a first-round bye at the SEC Tournament, and a win could put the Bulldogs firmly in that conversation.
ย
Thursday night is MSU's Kick or Treat match with children encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. All kids in costume will be welcomed onto the field to greet the team as it takes the field before the national anthem. Halftime will see a costume contest at midfield, and Bully's Kids Club members can participate in pumpkin painting.
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Kicking Off
Unbeaten In The SEC: Kevin O'Brien is unbeaten through his first six career SEC matches. In the history of the conference, only Texas A&M's G Guerrieri has ever been better, going seven matches in 2012. State is one of three remaining unbeaten teams in SEC play.ย
Deck Of Cards: State's last game saw a combined nine cards handed out, which broke the MSU Soccer Field record, and both teams received a red. As a result, the Bulldogs will be without starting centerback and minutes leader Ashley Tutas on Thursday night.
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Back In The Top 25: Nearly a year to the date of their last appearance, the Bulldogs are back in the TopDrawerSoccer Top 25, checking in at No. 23 this week.
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On The Front Foot: The Bulldogs have only trailed for 103:56 this season (8.9 percent of play) and have never trailed in an SEC game.
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Bang-Bang: State has scored a pair of goals less than six minutes apart five times this year. Over the last 10 years, MSU has done so 22 times in 21 matches, going 19-2-0.
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About Oklahoma (9-3-2, 3-3-0 SEC)
Rankings: IWSOC โ NR | TopDrawerSoccer โ NRHead Coach: Matt Mott | Record at OU: 37-25-9 (4th Year) | Career Record: 176-122-41 (17th Year)
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Series History
Overall: 2-0-0 | Current Streak: Won 2 | Home: 0-0-0 | Away: 1-0-0 | Neutral: 1-0-0 | Last Meeting: ย Nov. 2, 2025, MSU 1-0ย
Notables
The Sooners were shut out for the first time this season by Auburn last week. Prior to that game, MSU was the last team to blank the Sooners. Oklahoma is second in the SEC in goals, assists and points and has scored six or more goals in a game three times this year. The Sooners are led by MAC Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List selection Kayla Keefer, who leads the nation with 15 goals this year and needs just one more point and one more goal to match the Sooner's single-season records for both. Keefer is also among the top-10 nationally in shots and shots on goal per game.ย
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Next Up
The Bulldogs hit the road on Sunday to play at No. 21/24 Auburn. The Tigers are currently fourth in the SEC with 12 points and hold the final first-round bye if the season ended today. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.ย
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Follow the Bulldogs
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow onย X,ย Facebookย andย Instagramย by searching "HailStateSOC."ย
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Players Mentioned
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