The Mississippi State football team is already eliminated from reaching bowl eligibility, but it hopes its final bye week of the season can help it build momentum into the 2025 season.

The Bulldogs (2-8, 0-6 SEC) have yet to win an SEC game this season under first-year coach Jeff Lebby, who was hired away from Oklahoma in the offseason. MSU has also turned to true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren down the stretch, who has played well in relief of the injured Blake Shapen.

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Van Buren has at least provided some nice things to look forward to going ahead, as the Bowie, Maryland, native has passed for 1,415 yards with nine touchdowns to five interceptions, along with four rushing touchdowns, this season.

The rest of the schedule won’t be easy, as the Bulldogs face Missouri at home and Ole Miss on the road in the Egg Bowl to end the season.

Here’s everything to know about Mississippi State’s bye week, including the rest of its schedule in 2024:

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Does Mississippi State play today?

Mississippi State doesn’t play in Week 12, as it’s the second of its two bye weeks this season.

The Bulldogs’ first bye week in 2024 came on Oct. 5, after their loss to Texas and before their loss to Georgia. Their Week 12 bye comes after falling to Tennessee and before they close their season against Missouri and Ole Miss in consecutive weeks.

Mississippi State football schedule 2024

Here’s a look at Mississippi State’s 2024 schedule:

All times Central

• Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Eastern Kentucky (W, 56-7)
• Saturday, Sept. 7: at Arizona State (L, 30-23)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Toledo (L, 41-17)
• Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Florida (L, 45-28)*
• Saturday, Sept. 28: at No. 1 Texas (L, 35-13)*
• Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
• Saturday, Oct. 12: at No. 5 Georgia* (L, 41-31)
• Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. No. 14 Texas A&M* (L, 34-24)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. Arkansas* (L, 58-25)
• Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. UMass (W, 45-20)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 7 Tennessee* (L, 33-14)
• Saturday, Nov. 16: BYE
• Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 23 Missouri* | 3:15 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Friday, Nov. 29: at No. 11 Ole Miss* | 2:30 p.m. | ABC (ESPN+ or Fubo)

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Tee Bartlett, a four-star center in the 2025 class, has committed to Mississippi State.

The 6-foot-10 senior out of Overtime Elite (GA) chose Chris Jans and the Bulldogs over offers from USC, Illinois, Miami, Washington, Xavier, and others.

Bartlett, a Los Angeles native, is the nation’s No. 61 overall prospect, No. 5 center and No. 7 recruit in Georgia in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Bartlett named one of the standouts at OTE Combine

Tee Barlett was recently named as one of the standouts at the Overtime Elite Combine, according to On3’s Jamie Shaw

“Tee Bartlett measured 6-foot-10.5 and is listed at 275 pounds. The center used his physical disposition well on the block. Showing comfort as a throw-back-type big, he put his two feet in the paint and finished consistently in traffic over both shoulders. Bartlett is a good area rebounder and a good passer out of the post. While most of his game was around the basket, during the drill portion he made pick and pop threes. Playing through a big has not left the college game, and Bartlett showed at the Overtime Elite Combine that he is able to create an offensive advantage with the ball in his hands.”