For college baseball fans looking for an early fix, your wish has come true.
The Biloxi Shuckers announced Tuesday that both Mississippi State and Southern Miss will play exhibition games at Keesler Federal Park.
On Friday, Oct. 9, Mississippi State will play Auburn at 6 p.m. The next day, on Saturday, Oct. 10, Mississippi State will play Southern Miss at 2 p.m. The preseason games are part of the Hancock Whitney Classic, which brings college baseball programs to the minor-league stadium for regular-season or special exhibition games.
“We’re excited to welcome the Bulldogs, Golden Eagles, Tigers, and their fans to Keesler Federal Park this fall,” Biloxi Shuckers general manager Hunter Reed said. “These fan bases are some of the most passionate in college baseball and partnering with Hancock Whitney to continue these games is an honor.”
Tickets start at $24 for students and Biloxi Shuckers season ticket holders and $26 for the general public. Prices will increase on the day of the games.
Mississippi State, coming off a super regional appearance in year one under head coach Brian O’Connor, plans to use the exhibitions as a way to acclimate 24 new players added to the roster ahead of 2027.
The last time Mississippi State played at Keesler Federal Park as part of the Hancock Whitney Classic was against Tulane on March 10. The regular-season game saw the Bulldogs win 11-7.
“We’re excited about returning to Biloxi in October,” O’Connor said. “We had an incredible experience down there in March and are looking forward to the opportunity to play baseball in front of our fans from the coast again. I’m proud of the team my staff has assembled and can’t wait to get them out there this fall and see what we can do against high-level competition like Auburn and Southern Miss.”
Southern Miss will make the trip to Biloxi after winning the 2026 Sun Belt regular season and conference tournament titles before falling in its own regional.
The Golden Eagles last played at Keesler Federal Park as part of the Hancock Whitney Classic on March 17, beating Nicholls 4-0.
Auburn, on the other hand, had a 40-win campaign in 2026, one that included a spot in the College World Series squashed by Ole Miss in the super regional round.
