No. 6 Mississippi State Face Key SEC Road Tests

Bulldogs take on No. 35 Arkansas, No. 11 Oklahoma in crucial matchups

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:36pm

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The No. 6 Mississippi State men's tennis team is set to face two ranked opponents on the road this week, taking on No. 35 Arkansas on Thursday and No. 11 Oklahoma on Saturday. The Bulldogs hold a dominant 36-8 all-time record against the Razorbacks and a 5-2 edge over the Sooners, looking to continue their success in these key SEC and non-conference matchups.

Why it matters

These road tests against ranked opponents provide Mississippi State with crucial opportunities to strengthen their resume and position heading into postseason play. The Bulldogs have already secured 12 ranked wins this season and will look to add to that total against Arkansas and Oklahoma.

The details

Thursday's match against Arkansas will mark a homecoming for head coach Matt Roberts, who faces his alma mater in Fayetteville. The Bulldogs have historically dominated the series, holding a 36-8 all-time advantage over the Razorbacks, including a 15-2 record in matches played on the road. On Saturday, Mississippi State travels to Oklahoma for a top-15 showdown, where they hold a 5-2 edge in the all-time series and enter the match riding a four-match win streak against the Sooners.

  • The matchup with Arkansas is scheduled for Thursday, April 2 at 5:30 p.m. CT.
  • The contest against Oklahoma will take place on Saturday.

The players

Petar Jovanovic

Holds the all-time program wins record for combined singles and doubles victories.

Niccolo Baroni

Has been strong in singles play, with the highest Bulldog win percentage in singles.

Benito Sanchez Martinez

Has played nine straight ranked singles matches, going 7-2.

Matt Roberts

The program's all-time wins leader and head coach who faces his alma mater in Arkansas.

Mississippi State

The No. 6 ranked men's tennis team that holds dominant records against both Arkansas and Oklahoma.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for these tough road tests against ranked opponents. Our team is focused and prepared to continue our success this season.”

— Matt Roberts, Head Coach

What’s next

The Bulldogs will look to continue their strong play and add more ranked wins to their resume as they prepare for the postseason.

The takeaway

Mississippi State's upcoming road matches against Arkansas and Oklahoma provide the Bulldogs with crucial opportunities to solidify their position as one of the top teams in the country heading into the postseason.