Rumored to be in the works for at least a couple of months, the 2013 Oklahoma State-Mississippi State opener has officially landed at a neutral site.
In a press release, OSU announced that next year’s season opener will be against the Bulldogs and will take place at Houston’s Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans. The game, put together by a collaboration of ESPN, the Texans and Lone Star Sports and Entertainment, will be the inaugural contest in a series that’s been dubbed the “Texas Kick Off Classic.”
“We’re excited to open the season in Houston,” said OSU athletic director Mike Holder in a statement. “We have a growing number of Texans attending Oklahoma State and a large alumni base in the area. We will be playing a high-profile season opener in a great stadium. I think our fans will be eager for this matchup all summer.”
The 2013 game will mark the fifth meeting between the Cowboys and Bulldogs, and the first since 1999. The two schools have split those first four games.
“This is a great opportunity for our team to open the 2013 season in an NFL stadium,” MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a statement. “It provides our fans a unique destination for the season opener. We have a great fan base in Texas, as well, who will be excited to see the Bulldogs play in their home state.”
(Photo credit: Houston Texans)