STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s 2009 football games against Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt will be swapped from their previously announced dates, the Southeastern Conference announced Thursday. The Bulldogs will now travel to Vanderbilt on September 19 and welcome Georgia Tech on October 3.

“In working with the Southeastern Conference, the Atlantic Coast Conference and within our new television deal with ESPN, we switched the dates of these two games,” director of athletics Greg Byrne said.

Mississippi State will play seven home games in the fall, including what will now be a three-game homestand featuring games with LSU, Georgia Tech and a homecoming contest against Houston.

The Bulldogs continue preparations for the 2009 season as spring practice will begin on March 24 and conclude with the annual Maroon-White Game on April 18, as part of Super Bulldog Weekend on the Mississippi State campus.

Mississippi State Football 2009 Schedule

Sept.   5              JACKSON STATE                

Sept.   12       * at Auburn

Sept.   19       * at Vanderbilt

Sept.   26       * LSU

Oct.      3              GEORGIA TECH

Oct.      10       * HOUSTON (HOMECOMING)

Oct.      17       * at Middle Tennessee

Oct.      24           FLORIDA

Oct.      31       * at Kentucky

Nov.    14       * ALABAMA

Nov.    21       * at Arkansas (Little Rock)

Nov.    28       * OLE MISS