For the fourth time this season, Mississippi State and Ole Miss baseball will play against each other.
The No. 9 Bulldogs (34-10) will face the No. 18 Rebels (31-14) at Trustmark Park in Pearl on April 28 (6 p.m. CT, SEC Network+). However, unlike their previous games this season, this matchup is considered a nonconference game.
Mississippi State already won the SEC series over Ole Miss on March 27-29. The Bulldogs swept the Rebels at Swayze Field in Oxford.
Mississippi State has won eight straight games, coming off a sweep of LSU. Ole Miss is coming off a series loss vs Georgia.
Although both teams play in the SEC, the April 28 game between Ole Miss and Mississippi State will not count toward either team's SEC record.
Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Ole Miss fan Michael Fondren checks his grill as he cooks before the game against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Mississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco (5) looks out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) throws to first for an out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Mississippi State's Kevin Milewski (21) is congratulated by Mississippi State's Bryce Chance (38) following a home run against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against \Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.Mississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.1 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosOle Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.1 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosOle Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.2 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosOle Miss fan Michael Fondren checks his grill as he cooks before the game against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.3 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosMississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.4 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosMississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.5 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosOle Miss head coach Mike Bianco (5) looks out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.6 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosMississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.7 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosOle Miss' Judd Utermark (27) throws to first for an out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.8 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosMississippi State's Kevin Milewski (21) is congratulated by Mississippi State's Bryce Chance (38) following a home run against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.9 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosOle Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against \Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.10 / 10Ole Miss baseball vs Mississippi State, Ace Reese, Judd Utermark see our best photosMississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.The annual game at Trustmark Park, known as the Governor's Cup, is played in addition to the SEC series between the two teams.
The Bulldogs and Rebels have played a nonconference, neutral-site game every year since 1980.
The game has been known as the Governor's Cup since 2007. The name changed when the game previously known as the Mayor's Trophy was moved from Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson to Trustmark Park.
Mississippi State leads the Governor's Cup series 11-6. The Bulldogs' longest winning streak was four years from 2016-19. Ole Miss has never won back-to-back Governor's Cups.
Mississippi State won the inaugural game 14-9 in 2007. Ole Miss won it most recently in 2025 by a score of 8-7. Mississippi State had won the prior two seasons, taking it 2-1 in 2023 and 5-1 in 2024.
In the all-time Mayor's Trophy-Governor's Cup series, Mississippi State leads 24-20. The Bulldogs won the first Mayor's Trophy 9-2 in 1980. Before it became the Governor's Cup, the Rebels led the series 14-13. They won seven of eight matchups from 1999-2006, including five straight from 2002-06.
Mississippi State is 260-218 in the all-time series against Ole Miss.
There is a threat of thunderstorms in the weather forecast for the game. There is a 55% probability of precipitation in the evening, according to AccuWeather. The forecasted climate is "cloudy, warm and humid with a heavy thunderstorm."
Mississippi State RHP Brendan Sweeney (0-0, 0.46 ERA) vs. Ole Miss RHP Owen Kelly (2-1, 3.04 ERA)
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Why Ole Miss vs Mississippi State game doesn't count in SEC standings