{"id":32276,"date":"2026-01-03T19:45:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T23:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/ms-state-vs-texas-bulldogs-lead-longhorns-in-closely-contested-sec-opener-that-shocks-everyone\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T19:45:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T23:45:50","slug":"48295-ms-state-vs-texas-bulldogs-lead-longhorns-in-closely-contested-sec-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/48295-ms-state-vs-texas-bulldogs-lead-longhorns-in-closely-contested-sec-opener\/","title":{"rendered":"MS State vs Texas: Bulldogs lead Longhorns in closely contested SEC opener that shocks everyone"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style='font-size:1.1em;font-weight:500;line-height:1.6;margin-bottom:20px'>Mississippi State and Texas are battling in their long-awaited SEC conference opener on January 3, 2026. Both teams depend on this matchup to jumpstart their tournament dreams with critical wins ahead.<\/p>\n<div style='background:#f9f9f9;padding:20px;border-left:4px solid #e74c3c;margin:25px 0'>\n<h3 style='margin-top:0'>\ud83d\udd25 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n<ul style='margin:10px 0;padding-left:20px'>\n<li>Mississippi State (8-5) and Texas (9-4) open SEC play on Saturday, January 3 at Moody Center in Austin<\/li>\n<li><b>Josh Hubbard<\/b> leads the Bulldogs with 21.3 points per game in his junior season<\/li>\n<li>Texas enters as a heavy 10.5-point favorite in Sean Miller&#8217;s inaugural year as head coach<\/li>\n<li>Both teams need conference success to improve their NET tournament rankings and secure NCAA Tournament bids<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>High Stakes Conference Opener for Both Programs<\/h2>\n<p>The <b>Mississippi State Bulldogs and Texas Longhorns<\/b> tip off the SEC conference schedule on Saturday evening with everything to prove. The <b>Bulldogs<\/b> carry an <b>8-5 record<\/b> after a strong December performance, winning four straight games and five of their last six. Texas arrives at <b>9-4<\/b>, having completed a <b>13-game non-conference slate<\/b> under first-year head coach <b>Sean Miller<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>Both programs face a critical juncture. Based on their <b>NET rankings<\/b>, each team needs significant wins during conference play to climb into Tournament contention. The SEC has established itself as a powerhouse conference with <b>seven teams in the Top 30 of the NET rankings<\/b>, creating a competitive gauntlet ahead for both squads.<\/p>\n<h2>Hubbard Leads Mississippi State Into Hostile Territory<\/h2>\n<p>Mississippi State enters Moody Center relying heavily on <b>guard Josh Hubbard<\/b>, who averages <b>21.3 points per game<\/b> this season. The <b>junior from Madison, Mississippi<\/b> continues his stellar play as the Bulldogs&#8217; primary offensive weapon. In their last outing before conference play, <b>Hubbard scored 22 points<\/b> to lead Mississippi State to a <b>94-56 victory<\/b> against Alabama State.<\/p>\n<p>The Bulldogs&#8217; momentum from December carries them into <b>Texas territory<\/b>, but they face a <b>Texas team<\/b> that enters as a <b>10.5-point favorite<\/b>. Playing away from home presents Mississippi State&#8217;s biggest challenge, though their recent winning streak suggests they can compete with any opponent.<\/p>\n<table style='width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:20px 0'>\n<tr style='background:#f4f4f4'>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;font-weight:bold'>Team<\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;font-weight:bold;text-align:center'>Record<\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;font-weight:bold'>Top Player<\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;font-weight:bold;text-align:center'>Ranking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd'><b>Mississippi State<\/b><\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;text-align:center'>8-5<\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd'>Josh Hubbard (21.3 PPG)<\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;text-align:center'>Unranked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style='background:#f9f9f9'>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd'><b>Texas<\/b><\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;text-align:center'>9-4<\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd'>Jordan Pope<\/td>\n<td style='padding:12px;border:1px solid #ddd;text-align:center'>Not Yet Ranked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Sean Miller&#8217;s First SEC Test Against Determined Bulldogs<\/h2>\n<p>Texas basketball enters a new era under <b>Sean Miller<\/b>, the legendary coach taking his first swing at conference play with the <b>Longhorns<\/b>. Miller brings <b>22 career NCAA Tournament wins<\/b> and extensive experience, but the SEC conference represents uncharted waters for his tenure in Austin.<\/p>\n<p>The <b>Longhorns<\/b> completed their non-conference schedule at <b>9-4<\/b>, earning respect in a tough early schedule. However, conference play demands different preparation, and both teams understand that strong starts in SEC competition shape entire seasons. <b>Sean Miller<\/b> and the Texas coaching staff face a well-prepared Mississippi State team that won&#8217;t back down despite the point spread.<\/p>\n<h2>Tournament Implications and Conference Landscape<\/h2>\n<p>The <b>SEC basketball landscape<\/b> remains crowded with talent, with <b>Vanderbilt and Georgia<\/b> leading the conference through early games. Both Mississippi State and Texas need to establish winning patterns immediately to position themselves for postseason play. The Bulldogs&#8217; recent form suggests they can compete at a high level, while Texas enters with the advantage of playing at home and carrying more non-conference success.<\/p>\n<p>This matchup represents the beginning of a grind for both programs. Conference play determines NCAA Tournament seeding, and every game carries weight. Mississippi State&#8217;s ability to steal a road win would transform their tournament prospects significantly.<\/p>\n<h2>What Determines Success for Each Team Tonight?<\/h2>\n<p><b>For Mississippi State:<\/b> Can the Bulldogs&#8217; backcourt, led by <b>Hubbard<\/b>, maintain their offensive consistency in a hostile environment? Road success requires strong perimeter shooting and disciplined play. The Bulldogs&#8217; chemistry during their <b>four-game winning streak<\/b> proved they can execute when healthy. Keeping <b>Texas<\/b> off the boards will be essential, as the Longhorns control <b>Moody Center<\/b> with their own intensity. Will Mississippi State&#8217;s <b>December momentum<\/b> carry through their first conference test?<\/p>\n<p><b>For Texas:<\/b> Home court advantage means everything in conference play, but Sean Miller&#8217;s squad must establish defensive identity. The Longhorns&#8217; ability to pressure the ball and force turnovers against <b>Hubbard and company<\/b> could determine the outcome early. <b>Texas<\/b> needs to show that their <b>9-4 non-conference record<\/b> translates to conference success and builds toward tournament positioning. Can <b>Miller&#8217;s team<\/b> demonstrate the consistency required for a postseason run?<\/p>\n<blockquote style='border-left:4px solid #3498db;padding-left:20px;margin:25px 0;font-style:italic;color:#555'><p>\n&#8220;We need to continue the success we&#8217;ve had in December and carry that energy into conference play.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style='font-size:0.9em;color:#666;margin-top:-15px'>\u2014 <b>Mississippi State Athletics<\/b>, SEC Conference<\/p>\n<h3>Sources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>ESPN<\/b> &#8211; Live game coverage and statistics<\/li>\n<li><b>SEC Sports<\/b> &#8211; Conference standings and official information<\/li>\n<li><b>Clarion Ledger<\/b> &#8211; Mississippi State basketball news and updates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":32275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"schema_org_data":"{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Josh Hubbard\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/3767132\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Sean Miller\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/2210705\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Jordan Pope\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/283vFdj8AHoH5JueNnzVaIOFLcJ.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/3991961\"]},{\"@type\":\"Place\",\"name\":\"Moody Center\",\"description\":\"venue\"},{\"@type\":\"Place\",\"name\":\"Austin\",\"description\":\"city\"},{\"@type\":\"Place\",\"name\":\"Madison, 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