The Massachusetts football team is closing in on finalizing its 2016 schedule.
According to a report from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the Minutemen will host Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 24, 2016.
In return, UMass agreed to play two future road games at Mississippi State. The first will be in Sept. 23, 2017, while the second will be Oct. 17, 2020.
It’s the third home game announced by new athletic director Ryan Bamford within the past week. The Minutemen will become an independent in 2016 – their football-only contract with the Mid-American Conference expires after 2015 – and Bamford’s worked to fill out the home schedule since taking over in April.
The Bulldogs are the second team from the SEC to travel to UMass, as Vanderbilt played at Gillette Stadium in 2013. Last season, Mississippi State opened the year with a 9-0 record, jumping to No. 1 in the polls behind standout quarterback Dak Prescott. It finished the 2014 season with a 10-3 record and a loss to Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
The Minutemen have home games against Connecticut (Sept. 10), Tulane (Oct. 1) and Louisiana Tech (Oct. 15) in 2016, all of which are scheduled to be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. It’s likely the team will schedule one more home game to reach a full 12-game schedule.
UMass’ road games that season will include trips to Florida, Boston College, Old Dominion, Appalachian State, Troy, Brigham Young and Hawaii.
Andrew Cyr can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @Andrew_Cyr.
