No. 5 Arkansas Hosts No. 3 Mississippi State in SEC Baseball Showdown

Top-5 matchup kicks off SEC play for both teams in Fayetteville

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:23pm

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The No. 3 Mississippi State Bulldogs (15-2) travel to Fayetteville to take on the No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks (12-5) in a highly anticipated SEC baseball series. Both teams have faced tough early-season schedules, with Mississippi State's only losses coming to No. 1 UCLA and No. 7 Southern Miss, while Arkansas' lone defeat was against TCU. This weekend's series will be a chance for the Bulldogs to earn their first series win over the Razorbacks since 2018 and their first in Fayetteville since 2007.

Why it matters

This top-5 matchup between SEC West rivals will provide an early barometer for both teams as they begin conference play. The Razorbacks have been a consistent national power under head coach Dave Van Horn, while Mississippi State is looking to build on its recent success and make a push for the College World Series.

The details

Arkansas has gotten off to a slow start offensively, ranking 12th in the SEC in batting average and last in runs scored. However, the Razorbacks' pitching staff has been dominant, leading the conference in several key categories. The starting rotation of Gabe Gaeckle, Hunter Dietz, and Colin Fisher has been particularly impressive. On the other side, Mississippi State will look to its balanced lineup, led by All-SEC second baseman Camden Kozeal, to try and solve the Razorbacks' pitching.

  • The series begins on Friday, March 12, 2026.
  • The teams will play a three-game set, with games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The players

Dave Van Horn

The longtime head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Van Horn has led the program to 10 College World Series appearances, three SEC Championships, and 13 Regional wins during his 22-year tenure.

Camden Kozeal

The All-SEC second baseman for Mississippi State is batting .359 with a .440 on-base percentage and .750 slugging percentage so far this season.

Gabe Gaeckle

The junior right-hander is Arkansas' Friday night starter and has a 2.61 ERA through his first four starts of the season.

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What they’re saying

“This weekend's series is a great early-season test for both teams as they look to establish themselves as contenders in the SEC.”

— Dave Van Horn, Head Coach, Arkansas Razorbacks

“We're excited for the challenge of facing one of the top teams in the country. It's going to take our best effort to come away with a series win in Fayetteville.”

— Chris Lemonis, Head Coach, Mississippi State Bulldogs

What’s next

The winner of this series will take an early lead in the SEC West standings and potentially position themselves for a top national seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This top-5 matchup between SEC West rivals Arkansas and Mississippi State will provide an early barometer for both teams as they look to establish themselves as national contenders. With strong pitching staffs and talented lineups, the series is sure to be a hard-fought battle that could have major implications for the rest of the season.