re: The mystery that is MSU

Mississippi State practices a value strategy with scheduling games.

1. They look for home and home deals with middle of the pack Power 5 schools (Oregon, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech in the past 20 years, NC State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Arizona in future years).

2. They look for 2-for-1 deals with regional Group of 5 teams. Troy, Louisiana Tech, South Alabama. These deals are financially beneficial to both teams - allowing MSU to get two home games for the price of one, and allowing the G5 schools to get huge home games. The exceptions to this are Memphis and Houston (where MSU has a sizable alumni base) and Southern Miss that 2 year stretch (political reasons).

3. They will consider home and home deals with Group of 5 teams that are located near NFL cities, giving MSU a unique road game experience and the fans a great trip. Massachusetts at Foxboro was the first. Louisiana-Lafayette at the Superdome is next. UNLV at the new Raiders Stadium is in the talks, as well as Northern Illinois at Soldier Field.

4. One FCS home game a year. They tried to keep those games in state with Jackson State and Alcorn State but they bitched and cried racism so that's over. Charleston Southern, Abilene Christian, North Alabama - all on the upcoming schedules.

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At least we aren't playing UMass in Massachusetts in front of 12 people.

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Why does State travel so poorly? I am asking in all seriousness. From a socio economic standpoint, State and Ole Miss fans are basically identical. But we seem to do more "adventure travel" when it comes to football.

We will bring probably 20,000 plus to Cal Berkeley this Sept. You guys brought maybe 2000 to Boston last Sept.

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We will bring probably 20,000 plus to Cal Berkeley this Sept. You guys brought maybe 2000 to Boston last Sept

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Big difference between traveling to play a Pac 12 team and a MAC team. How many did ya'll take to Fresno? Probably about the same as we took to Boston.

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And we were roughly half of that. I would say 15,000 conservatively.

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Didn't MSU play AT UMass?

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Technically it was in a near empty Foxboro Stadium

Attendance was announced at 13,000 but looking at pictures even that may have been inflated

Meh, it happens sometimes when you need to fill out a schedule and if you can do it on the cheap and get them to come to your place two times for the one away game then more power to you. Especially if its in an area you recruit.

After Michigan backed out of the deal with Arkansas at the last minute we had to go with a home and away schedule with Colorado State to make up for it. Some people will bray and laugh about it, I guarantee you, but that is the reality of scheduling in the modern era of football. Sometimes you have to take a bad deal. Sometimes what looks like a bad deal is a good deal for you down the road.

Knee slapper

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No SEC team should be playing on the road vs a non power 5 team. Have some self respect

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FWIW Kentucky plays at Southern Miss this season

Might not be 20k but I'd be confident in close to 15k.


Remember....we aren't going to a bowl game so this'll have to do.