| Friday, June 12, 2026 |
| MSU engineering college, CAVS Extension work with industry partners to introduce Integrated Logistics Support training on the Gulf Coast | |
 | Mississippi State manufacturing experts and students are leading a collaboration with Bollinger Shipyards and technical services firm CHAND to strengthen workforce training in the shipbuilding industry through the development of an Integrated Logistics Support, or ILS, curriculum. The partnership began when CHAND Executive Vice President Cindie Roussel recognized the growing need for training within the industry. ILS is a unified technical analysis and management discipline that ensures naval ships, aircraft, and weapon systems can be effectively operated and maintained throughout their entire life cycle. Industrial engineering senior Jane Strawderman said the project gave students exposure to the scale and complexity of real‑world logistics and engineering. "As students, we don't typically get to work with companies, especially on projects of this size," she said. "This experience showed us what our jobs will actually look like when we start taking large amounts of information, breaking it down and understanding it well enough to teach it to others." |
| FOX Weather Names Jake Kasitz as Fifth Annual Scholarship Recipient in Partnership with Mississippi State University | |
 | FOX Weather, FOX News Media's free ad-supported streaming television ("FAST") weather service, in partnership with Mississippi State University (MSU), has named Jake Kasitz as the fifth recipient of its annual scholarship program, announced Sharri Berg, president of the service. As part of the scholarship, Kasitz will intern with FOX Weather during the 2026-2027 school year as well as be mentored by meteorologist Ian Oliver. In making the announcement Berg said, "We are proud to recognize Jake Kasitz as the fifth recipient of our scholarship in partnership with Mississippi State University. We welcome him to a growing group of talented young meteorologists who represent the future of our industry as we remain committed to supporting the next generation of weather professionals through mentorship and hands-on experience." The scholarship was created in November 2021 as part of a long-term partnership between FOX Weather and Mississippi State University to support students pursuing a career in meteorology. It offers financial aid, mentorship and the opportunity to serve as an intern for FOX Weather. |
| Tick risks in Mississippi: What to know this summer | |
| Outdoor enthusiasts heading to ball fields, trails and golf courses should remember to do tick checks when they get home. "It's a hot topic right now -- tick bites," said Greg Flynn with the Mississippi Department of Health. Other parts of the country are seeing surges in ER visits for tick bites, but CDC data shows tick bite visits in the Southeast region are still less than half the number seen in the Northeast. Dr. Jerome Goddard, a medical entomologist with the Mississippi State Extension Service, offered insight on why the South sees fewer Lyme disease cases. "The reason is those baby ticks that transmit it feed on different things up North than they do down here," Goddard said. "Down here, those nymphal Ixodes scapularis feed on lizards and stuff, and they don't quest up high on the vegetation. They're down low under the leaves and stuff, so people don't get bit by those nymphs very much down here as opposed to up there." The Mississippi Department of Health is urging residents to wear repellent and do tick checks after outdoor activities. Kendra Redding, a family nurse practitioner at Baptist Medical Group-Clinton Primary Care, said while Lyme disease is not the biggest threat in the South, tick bites can still cause problems. |
| America's Top Farm-Raised Fish Faces Growing Pressures | |
| Whether served fried at a fish fry, blackened in a restaurant or sold as fillets in the grocery store, farm-raised catfish has become one of the most recognizable seafood products in the United States. It is also America's largest aquaculture industry, supporting hundreds of farms, processors, feed mills and rural communities across the country. Research from Mississippi State University, Virginia Tech, and Auburn University shows that industry contributes $1.91 billion to the tristate economy of Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi alone, while generating $76 million in tax revenues and providing over 9,100 jobs. But behind the familiar product is a matured industry navigating a growing list of challenges. The result is an industry that remains a cornerstone of U.S. aquaculture but operates with increasingly little margin for error. |
| New Scientific Study Tracks the Trends in 100 Years of Shark Depredation in Recreational Fisheries | |
| A scientific article recently published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science provides a new look at shark depredation by exploring the past. This study reveals the breadth of shark depredation in recreational fisheries in the waters from Maine to Texas and the U.S. Caribbean over the last 100 years. Shark depredation occurs when a shark bites or steals a fish hooked by an angler before it can be brought to the boat. While shark depredation has impacted fishermen for generations, both commercial and recreational anglers are increasingly concerned with economic losses from shark depredation as shark populations rebuild. "At its essence, shark depredation is the result of an overlap between humans and wildlife," says lead author Dr. Marcus Drymon, Associate Extension Professor at Mississippi State University and Marine Fisheries Specialist with Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. |
| Hundreds gather to watch South Mississippi release of one of world's rarest sea turtles | |
 | Hundreds gathered Thursday afternoon in Biloxi as the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies released one of the world's rarest, and most endangered, sea turtles into the Mississippi Sound. Goose, a Kemp's ridley sea turtle, was brought to IMMS in April after it was caught by fishermen in Ocean Springs. Mississippi State University and IMMS staff rehabilitated the turtle before clearing it for release. Despite its endangered status, IMMS marine ecologist Dr. Forrest Collins said this marine species is a mainstay on the Coast. "Right here in the Mississippi Sound, we're actually very lucky to where we get a lot of them," Collins said. "It's one of the most endangered animals, and we actually get to see a huge plethora of them." According to Collins, the Coast's shallow waters and crustacean populations make the Sound a good feeding ground. "They usually like to go over oysters, shrimps and shrimp species. It's pretty much everything that somebody else would like to eat as well," Collins said. |
| Student Quarters Lands $64M for Mississippi Student Community | |
| Student Quarters has obtained $63.8 million in refinancing for The Vista Starkville, an 820-bed luxury student housing community in Starkville, Miss. QuadReal Property Group originated the three-year, floating-rate loan, while JLL brokered the transaction. The deal comes just after The Scion Group announced it will acquire the operating business of Student Quarters. The company's portfolio comprises 29 assets totaling about 13,000 beds and serving 21 campuses. That acquisition is set to close in the third quarter. Mississippi State University is seeing strong enrollment momentum, reaching a record 23,563 students for the 2025-2026 academic year -- an increase of nearly 11 percent over the past decade, according to JLL. Located at 705 University Drive, the four-building community is half a mile from the Mississippi State University at Starkville campus and Davis Wade Stadium. Starkville's city center is 2 miles away. The community is 97 percent occupied for the current academic year. |
| Camp Shelby now providing enhanced training to combat opposing force unmanned aircraft systems | |
| Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center announced Thursday that it has expanded training opportunities at its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Center. The center is now providing units with enhanced capabilities to train against friendly and opposing force unmanned aircraft systems, including swarm-enabled threats, in a contested airspace environment. The addition of opposing force UAS, particularly swarm-based scenarios, increases training realism and prepares service members to respond to rapidly evolving threats on the modern battlefield. In partnership with the Combat Capabilities Development Command's Threat Systems Management Office, Aerial Threat Systems Branch, the Camp Shelby UAS Flight Center has added the T-Swarm TS-M800, a military-grade threat simulation platform capable of controlling approximately 100 unmanned systems from a single ground control station. The system mirrors capabilities currently employed at Army Combat Training Centers and counter-UAS training facilities. The center said the initiative supports the Department of Defense's "Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance" guidance, which directs the acceleration and operationalization of drone capabilities across the joint force. |
| 2026 Miss Mississippi pageant brings economic boost to Vicksburg | |
 | The Miss Mississippi pageant is bringing more than competition to Vicksburg this week. Local business owners said the annual event provides a significant boost to the city's economy. Thousands of contestants, families and pageant fans travel to Vicksburg each year, generating millions of dollars in economic impact while supporting local shops, restaurants, hotels and attractions. Nancy Bell, director of the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation and owner of the Coca-Cola Museum, said pageant week is one of her favorite times of the year. "We have people who've been here several times and they'll still come back to see us," Bell said. "We also host autograph parties for some of the contestants, and we love seeing all the little girls come in and get their autographs signed." Business owners said the event helps bring new and returning visitors to the city while creating a welcoming atmosphere for contestants and their families. |
| Flo Rida to headline 2026 Mississippi State Fair as officials unveil patriotic theme | |
| Grammy-nominated rapper Flo Rida will headline the 2026 Mississippi State Fair, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced Wednesday as state officials unveiled this year's patriotic theme and several new attractions. The 2026 Mississippi State Fair will run Oct. 8-18 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson under the theme "Let Freedom Ring!" as part of the nationwide America250 celebration commemorating the nation's 250th anniversary. Flo Rida, known for hits including "Low," "Right Round," "Club Can't Handle Me" and "My House," is scheduled to perform Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Mississippi Coliseum. Concert tickets start at $35 and include admission to the fair. Tickets go on sale June 12 at 10 a.m. Gipson said the fair's patriotic theme will build on Mississippi's participation in America250, a national initiative recognizing the country's semiquincentennial. Gipson said the fair continues to serve as one of Mississippi's largest annual events, combining agriculture, entertainment and family activities while showcasing the state's heritage and culture. |
| State Auditor Can't Sue Favre or Others to Claw Back Welfare Funds, Mississippi Supreme Court Rules | |
| Mississippi's state auditor, Shad White, does not have the authority to try to recover misspent welfare funds through litigation, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The unanimous opinion affirmed that Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has the sole right to pursue lawsuits to recover the funds, including interest that White says former NFL quarterback Brett Favre owes the state. While Fitch has not pursued criminal cases in the welfare scandal, leaving that instead to local and federal prosecutors, her office has sought to claw back $77 million in funds from dozens of defendants, including Favre, in a massive civil lawsuit. In response to a request for comment, Fitch's office pointed only to the ruling itself, specifically page 10, paragraph 24. That section notes that the attorney general has "the sole power to bring or defend a lawsuit filed on behalf of a state agency" and says the justices found "a common-sense separation of duties as prescribed by the Legislature that the auditor will audit and that the attorney general will litigate." |
| State support for youth courts remains in limbo | |
| While state funding was appropriated to Mississippi's Youth Court system during the recent legislative session, inaction on a separate extension bill for the youth court program has left dispersal of that funding in limbo. The Mississippi House of Representatives adjourned for the session as state Senator Brice Wiggins (R) was on the floor of the Senate introducing SB 2728 on the other side of the Capitol. Passing the bill was necessary to extend the youth court program that allows the Administrative Office of Courts to disperse $2.5 million in state funding to youth courts under code Section 43-21-80. "We had the votes. I was at the podium presenting the bill and was informed the House chose to adjourn," Wiggins told Magnolia Tribune. "I don't know why the House of Representatives chose to do that, but the fact remains is that we had an agreement with the chairman that the bill would be brought up and passed. The House chose not to do it." While both bodies passed the necessary appropriation bill to provide the $2.5 million in state support funds to the youth court system, the demise of SB 2728 puts a roadblock in the Administrative Office of Court's ability to dispense the money. |
| Insurance Commissioner threatens to pull licenses of over 70 producers after scheduled hearings | |
| Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney (R) sent a letter this week to over 70 insurance producers doing business in Mississippi alleging that their resident producer license was obtained and/or maintained through material misrepresentation or false pretenses. The producers handle Medicare advantage plans. "By signing and submitting a Mississippi residential producer license application, you expressly certified and attested, under penalty of perjury, that all information, statements, and supporting documentation provided was true, accurate, complete and not misleading," Chaney wrote to the companies. "You further acknowledged that any misrepresentation of material fact constitutes a violation subjecting you to potential regulatory enforcement action including denial or revocation of licensure, and any additional civil and criminal penalties authorized by law." A hearing has been set for July 20 where the companies may offer any documentary evidence or exhibits to the hearing officer to challenge the commissioner's claims. |
| Scott Colom gets $2 million in support from Democratic super PAC ahead of U.S. Senate race | |
| A Democratic super PAC that previously focused on presidential races is wading into congressional midterms with a $50 million investment, including $2 million backing Scott Colom in his challenge to Mississippi Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. American Bridge 21st Century, which describes itself as the "largest research, tracking, and rapid response operation in the Democratic Party," issued a news release Tuesday of its investment in "20 key House and Senate races" across Iowa, Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. n addition to the advertising boost, American Bridge opposition researchers have compiled a research document called "How To Win Against Cindy Hyde-Smith." Hyde-Smith, who is seeking a second full term in the Senate after being appointed to Washington in April 2018 from her position as state agriculture commissioner, has previously criticized some of Colom's contributors such as left-leaning billionaire George Soros and his son, Alexander Soros. Her campaign shared similar sentiments when asked about the American Bridge investment. |
| Cornyn predicts post-midterms will be 'most miserable two years' of Trump's life | |
 | Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) predicted in a new interview that the two years after the November midterm elections will be the "most miserable two years" of President Trump's life. Cornyn spoke with The New York Times in his first extensive interview following his defeat to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who Trump endorsed shortly before the Lone Star State's primary runoff last month. He foresees a rough future for Republican lawmakers and the president during the remainder of Trump's term, and suggested that the Senate is also in for a "bumpy ride" the rest of this year. He added that Trump is hurting the party with his insistence on "slavish" loyalty. "It's going to make things harder, certainly more expensive in Texas, and make it harder around the country," Cornyn said. "I don't say that with any sort of desire for vengeance; I just think that's the way it's going to be. He's going to have the most miserable two years of his life in the last two years of his term, I think, because I think November is going to be a disaster." |
| Senate plans fast action on Trump's DNI pick | |
 | Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Thursday he will try to get President Donald Trump's pick for director of national intelligence confirmed "as quickly as possible." "I don't know what realistic is, but we're gonna probe the limits of it," the South Dakota Republican said. Trump on Thursday afternoon said he'd be nominating Jay Clayton, currently leading the office of the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to the role. Within hours, the Senate Intelligence Committee had set a hearing for Wednesday and business meeting for Thursday. Trump has picked Bill Pulte to take over as the temporary director the next day, June 19, a move that solidified Democratic opposition to even a short-term reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. That key surveillance authority now will lapse going into the weekend. During Trump's first term, the Senate confirmed Clayton 61-37 to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission. But his nomination to be an U.S. attorney stalled in the Senate last year, and he was later named to the role by a federal court. |
| After Trump threatened to attack Iran, a scramble to stop him | |
 | Soon after President Donald Trump posted Thursday morning that he would hit Iran "VERY HARD TONIGHT," leaders from Gulf and South Asian countries called the president in a last-ditch effort to change his mind. They assured him a preliminary agreement that paves the way for more detailed talks was, in fact, at hand. The calls, which have not been previously reported, came from Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Pakistani defense chief Asim Munir, according to two administration officials and a diplomat briefed on the calls. Both were granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive diplomatic mediation. These countries have sway over Tehran and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump said Thursday, and their assurance that a deal was near led him to walk back his attack plans , according to one of the administration officials. The president announced on Truth Social that a deal could be signed as early as this weekend. The message from Iran was different. |
| The Rise of the 'Dude-Bro' Candidate | |
 | Consider the following qualifications for public office: An accusation of sexual misconduct or marital infidelity; voluntary or involuntary association with any of the following: Tucker Carlson, Hasan Piker or Joe Rogan; use of a racial slur in a public appearance or online post; publicly brawling or picking a fight. Not long ago, ticking any one of these boxes would have meant disqualification. Today, they are effectively bona fides. That, at least, seems to be the political calculation of the dudebro candidate, an emerging type who has dominated the political conversation this primary season. And while the actual electoral results thus far are mixed, the collective precedent is already upsetting long-held assumptions about what it takes to run for office. So who exactly is this guy? Broadly speaking, the dudebro candidate is more about vibes and style than about policy or platform. Picking up on the attitude and aesthetics of the manosphere, he is out to court attention, the tonal opposite of politic or cautious. This is a guy who openly disparages the need to watch what you say -- and that's part of the appeal. The question now is whether the dudebro will appeal to enough young, middle- and working-class men even as they may alienate other potential voters. |
| Southern Miss opens rural digital forensics lab to support law enforcement | |
| The University of Southern Mississippi is expanding access to digital forensic resources and training through the opening of the Rural Digital Forensics Initiative (RDFI) laboratory within the School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Security. Supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, the RDFI includes a digital content production studio and working laboratory used to create training materials and support rural law enforcement agencies in Mississippi and beyond. Rural law enforcement agencies often face unique challenges when it comes to accessing forensic support and training. The RDFI helps bridge those gaps by providing resources and educational opportunities that can help improve investigative efficiency and better support agencies in rural communities. Southern Miss students are gaining hands-on experience through the initiative. |
| Southern Miss opens Rural Digital Forensics Lab to support law enforcement | |
| The University of Southern Mississippi is expanding access to digital forensic resources and training through the opening of the Rural Digital Forensics Initiative (RDFI) laboratory within the School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Security. Supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, the RDFI includes a digital content production studio and working laboratory used to create training materials and support rural law enforcement agencies in Mississippi and beyond. The RDFI laboratory is one of only three digital forensics laboratories of its kind in Mississippi and is equipped to assist law enforcement agencies with a wide range of digital evidence, including smartphones, tablets, computers and external storage media. |
| Jackson State to host inaugural Southern Spark Conference focused on artificial intelligence | |
| Jackson State University will host educators, technology professionals, business leaders and community stakeholders today for a conference focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence across multiple industries. The inaugural Southern Spark Conference, described as the first event of its kind in the southern United States, will bring together participants for discussions on AI innovation, education, workforce development and public service. Hosted by Jackson State University and the Mississippi AI Collaborative, the two-day conference will feature panel discussions, workshops and breakout sessions designed to provide attendees with practical knowledge and hands-on experience using artificial intelligence technologies. The conference is scheduled for Friday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Ballroom B of the Jackson State University Student Center, located at 1400 John R. Lynch St. |
| Transition underway for switch to Presidential Academic Advisory Council, provost says | |
| In a message Wednesday to Auburn University faculty, administrators, A&P and staff colleagues, Vini Nathan, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, announced steps the University is taking to transition from previous faculty governance to the Presidential Academic Advisory Council (PAAC). The announcement comes less than a week after the Auburn University Board of Trustees unanimously voted to dissolve any current university senate, university faculty or faculty governance body. The announcement also references the Board's approval of the Academic Curricula, Courses, Syllabi and Core Educational Requirements policy. The message also discussed qualities that sustain thoughtful academic communities, including "careful judgment, disciplinary expertise and a steadfast commitment to the institution's educational purpose." During the transition period, some academic committees will continue with their work in order to ensure continuity in the University's academics. Nathan said relevant committee chairs have been informed and have been asked to share that information with members. |
| Clemson professor named next dean of U. of Arkansas' Fay Jones architecture school | |
| James C. Stevens, a professor at Clemson University who served as director of the university's School of Architecture from 2020 to 2025, will be the new dean of the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. Peter MacKeith, who led the Fay Jones School for 12 years, is retiring from the role June 30, and Stevens will take over Aug. 15, the university announced Thursday. Jim Gigantino, UA's senior vice provost for academic affairs, will serve as acting dean from July 1 until Stevens begins. Stevens' total annual compensation at the Fay Jones School will be $310,000, pending approval by the UA System board of trustees, according to his offer letter. Enrollment grew from 425 when MacKeith began his tenure to 1,100 in fall 2025, MacKeith said. Between 2015 and 2025, scholarships awarded to students more than doubled from $135,000 to $288,000. MacKeith, who was appointed as the fifth dean of the school in 2014 and reappointed in 2019, plans to devote himself more fully to the school's expanding initiatives in timber and wood design innovation after stepping down. |
| Waltons go BIG on new STEM university campus | |
| Members of the Walton family selected Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) to design the new STEM-focused university planned for the former Walmart Home Office site in Bentonville. The future university plans to offer flexible pathways to jobs in automation, logistics, biotech and computing -- fields crucial to Northwest Arkansas' future. Building talent in STEM (science, tech, engineering, and math) is a priority for the U.S., China and other countries racing to compete in the global economy. The initial campus will include about 422,000 square feet across three buildings: an academic building, student residence and a makerspace. The plan connects the campus with Bentonville's downtown grid and nearby parks, with public squares, green space and buildings designed to feel open and integrated with the community. The makerspace is planned as a visible hub for workshops, labs, student services and prototyping. The academic building will include classrooms, labs, offices and study space, while the residence hall will include dining and shared amenities. |
| Students Are Using a 'Backdoor' to Attend Their Dream Schools | |
| Justin Helman didn't get his dream acceptance from the University of Florida. But that isn't stopping him from pursuing the classic college experience there. The recent high-school graduate from Park Ridge, N.J., is set to move into a private apartment right by campus. He is enrolling in a UF online program for the first few semesters and paying an extra fee package to access services like the campus gym and student-section football-game tickets. He plans to study at the library, join clubs and might rush a fraternity. "I'm going to get almost the entire same experience, and the only thing I'm really missing is going into class and dorming," he said. "To me, it was just almost a no-brainer." More students like Helman are discovering there is another way into their dream schools. Students who don't get into major public flagships the traditional way are still participating in the social life of these campuses. The small-but-mighty group is moving to college towns, enrolling in online programs or nearby community colleges, living in private housing, joining Greek life, and attending game-day tailgates. Other students are carving their own avenues, attending community college while going to parties, athletic events and more at a nearby public university. It is also controversial. |
| House Republicans Aim to Override Trump's Loan Limit Regulations | |
 | A recent change to a House bill that funds the Education Department could allow master's- and doctoral-level nursing programs access to higher levels of federal student borrowing. Starting July 1, nursing students and most other graduate students will only be able to borrow $20,500 per year, under a new rule from the Education Department. Meanwhile, students in a select group of 11 programs, including optometry, medicine and law, have access to $50,000 per year. Various colleges and professional associations have argued that ED's decision to limit the higher loan caps to handful of programs will exacerbate workforce shortages in critical areas such as health care. The budget amendment, which advanced out of committee Tuesday, is attempting to address those concerns. But even if it survives the House, Senate and President Trump, it wouldn't take effect until Oct. 1 at the earliest, and Congress has historically failed to pass a federal budget by then. Policy experts also note that the provision would only expand aid access for nursing students. "APLU greatly appreciates Congressional support to address the inadequacies of the current definition of professional programs, which leaves many students without the support they need to enter fields critical to the U.S. workforce," said Craig Lindwarm, senior vice president for governmental affairs at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. "While this is a very limited expansion and has many more steps to go in the legislative process, it's important progress nonetheless." |
SPORTS
| Track & Field: Rougetet Earns Bronze At NCAA Outdoor Championships | |
| Mississippi State track and field concluded the second day of competition, with Marie Rougetet earning her first podium finish in the hammer. Rougetet launched a third round throw of 69.71m to secure third in the field. In her second consecutive NCAA Outdoor Championship, Rougetet earns her First Team All-American honors, a 14-place and five-meter improvement from 2025. Rougetet is the first Bulldog to earn a podium finish in the hammer and earn First Team honors in program history. She is the second All-American for State in program history, the first to earn the distinction in 14 years. Nelly Jemeli took to the track in her second NCAA Outdoor Championships, competing in the steeplechase. Jemeli finished 18th in the field with a 9:58.86 finish, coming up short of the finals. |
| MSU 4x100 relay makes history, set for NCAA Outdoor Finals | |
 | Mississippi State Track and Field 4×100 runners made program history Wednesday night. For the first time since 2009, State will have a short relay team running in the NCAA Outdoor Championship Finals. Sophomore Nicholas Fakorede, senior Kibren Moore, freshman Gabriel Scott and senior Sherman Hawkins Jr. ran a 38.73, good enough to qualify for Friday's finals. The 4×100 finals are set for Friday at 7:02 p.m. The 4×100 team were four of the 13 Bulldogs who competed in the first round of the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Wednesday. Juha Nahri also made program history in the hammer throw. Nahri earned second-team All-American honors, and tied his personal and program best with a 66.48m. His throw was good for 14th place. Nahri is the first men's hammer throw All-American in program history. |
| Mississippi State baseball breaks NCAA average attendance record held by LSU | |
 | Mississippi State baseball's best season since the 2021 national championship yielded an NCAA attendance record. The Bulldogs broke the record for average attendance at 11,868. LSU had the old record at 11,188 in 2023. Mississippi State's previous best was 11,094 in 2023. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that MSU's average attendance at Dudy Noble Field has been at least 11,000. MSU has also led the country in average home attendance in two of the last three seasons. LSU, which missed the NCAA Tournament, ranked second this season in average attendance at 11,012. They were the only two teams with an average above 10,000. Mississippi State hosted the largest on-campus crowd of the season on April 25 against LSU when 15,829 were in attendance. It ranks as the third-largest on-campus crowd in NCAA history. Mississippi State owns the 25 largest on-campus crowds in college baseball history. The current record was set in 2023 when MSU packed 16,423 fans into Dudy Noble Field for a game against Ole Miss. |
| ESPN draws best TV ratings for Super Regionals since 2009 | |
| After its success in Regionals, ESPN continued to score strong TV ratings through Super Regionals of the 2026 NCAA Baseball Tournament. The network announced more strong viewership during the second weekend of games. Two Sunday games helped lead the charge through Super Regionals. USC vs. North Carolina averaged 1.3 million viewers to become the most-watched Super Regional game on record. Meanwhile, the slugfest between Georgia vs. Mississippi State averaged 1.2 million -- the second-highest viewership ever for a Super Regional game. On the whole, Super Regionals saw a 31% year-over-year increase in viewership, ESPN announced Wednesday. An average of 608,000 viewers tuned in for the most-watched round since 2009. ESPN also saw TV ratings surge during the college baseball regular season, the network previously announced. The family of networks saw viewership increase 49% year-over-year for the company's best regular season since 2012. |
| Top dogs: Reese, Sullivan, Valincius earn All-American honors | |
| The postseason awards keep coming for Mississippi State Baseball. Three Bulldogs earned All-American Honors from two publications on Wednesday. Junior Ace Reese and Sophomore Tomas Valincius were named All-Americans by both Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Resse was a first-team selection by Perfect Game, and a second-team selection by the NCBWA. The projected first-round pick in this year's MLB Draft led State in home runs (24) and RBI (74). Reese was also named an All-American by both publications for his 2025 season. Valincius was a first-team selection by the NCWBA and a second-team selection by Perfect Game. The sophomore, who followed head Coach Brian O'Connor to Starkville after his freshman year at Virginia, started 17 games for State this season. He boasted a 3.50 ERA and 134 strikeouts with an 11-2 record. Graduate Noah Sullivan earned third-team honors from the NCWBA. Sullivan hit .342 with 13 home runs and 46 RBI in 2026. |
| State, with foundation in place, sets sights on being an Omaha team in O'Connor's second season | |
| Mississippi State coach Brian O'Connor believes the Bulldogs lost to a team that can win it all. It's true, no doubt. But it's also the time-honored consoling self-assessment of a coach who believed his team could do the same thing. Yet State's season ended Sunday as SEC regular season and tournament champion Georgia powered through MSU pitching, both starters and relievers, with 13-12 and 11-9 victories by the eastern Bulldogs to win the Athens Super Regional and advance to the College World Series. "We all know how hard it is to get to Omaha," O'Connor said. "The reason you go to Omaha is not to get there, it's to win the national championship. That team in the other dugout is absolutely capable of winning the national championship." O'Connor's first Mississippi State team fell show of its Omaha goal but did important work, he said. "I believe the foundation is set for how we're going to go about our business," O'Connor said. "That's important. It lasts over time and continues on when you've got a guy like this (motioning to Jacob Parker) who will be returning next year and understands what it takes and the lessons that he learned and can pass it onto other guys." |
| 'A national championship-winning coach': Coastal picks Chris Lemonis to lead baseball program | |
 | Coastal Carolina University named former Myrtle Beach area resident Chris Lemonis as its new baseball coach on June 11, moving quickly to replace Kevin Schnall after Schnall's departure for South Carolina. Lemonis, a graduate of Socastee High School and The Citadel, becomes the seventh coach in program history. "Chris Lemonis is one of the most respected coaches in college baseball," said Chance Miller, Coastal's vice president for intercollegiate athletics and university recreation, in a news release. "He knows what it takes to get to Omaha, and more importantly, he knows what it takes to win there. Chris has proven himself everywhere he has been, and we're excited to bring a national championship-winning coach home to Conway. Lemonis led Mississippi State to a College World Series title in 2021. Gone along with Schnall are at least 24 players in the transfer portal, including pitchers Hayden Johnson of Myrtle Beach and Colby Richardson of Mullins following him to USC. |
| Swamp makeover: Florida announces plans for a $1.45B renovation to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium | |
 | The University of Florida is planning the most expensive -- and potentially most comprehensive -- stadium renovation in college football history, a $1.45 billion overhaul of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium that school officials believe will nearly double annual revenue from their "$75 million ATM machine." The Gators unveiled renderings and details of the burgeoning project at a board of trustees meeting Thursday, providing the total budget (up from $400 million) as well as a start date (2027 offseason) and a completion date (2030 offseason). The board said the transformation will "breathe new life into one of the nation's most iconic college football venues and elevate it into the premier collegiate athletic destination that sets the standard for everyone else." "Every inch of this stadium is going to be affected," athletic director Scott Stricklin added. Florida started looking at ways to upgrade "the Swamp" in 2018. The process was delayed by COVID-19 and ended up morphing into a "50-year solution" instead of a "short-term fix," Stricklin said. |
| Texas AG warns Big 12 against 'unlawful' sanctions toward Texas Tech over Brendan Sorsby | |
 | The office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a formal letter to the Big 12 Conference on Thursday on behalf of Texas Tech University, stating any sanctions imposed by the Big 12 against Texas Tech regarding quarterback Brendan Sorsby would be considered "unlawful" and met with legal action. "Texas Tech is confident the Big 12 will choose to act within the confines of the law and respect both the judicial process and its own Rules and Bylaws," the letter reads. "However, should the Big 12 seek to sanction Texas Tech for acting consistent with the (court) Order, Texas Tech will pursue all legal avenues to protect its interests and those of Texas Tech's student-athletes." Prominent sports labor lawyer Jeffrey Kessler, who represented Sorsby in his lawsuit against the NCAA, sent a similar letter to the Big 12 on Thursday on behalf of Sorsby. "What does it say about the Big 12 if it decides to lawlessly violate a court order?" Kessler's letter reads. "What message does it send to its students if its response to a lawful court order is to be contemptuous of its terms? One would expect something more honorable from the Conference and its member schools." |
| In video, Texas Tech officials defend school, Brendan Sorsby | |
| In a 20-plus-minute video released Thursday night, Texas Tech officials defended their integrity and reiterated their support for Brendan Sorsby amid widespread criticism from the rest of the Big 12 Conference and other corners of college sports to the likelihood of the quarterback playing for the Red Raiders this fall. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt -- appearing in the video alongside football coach Joey McGuire, university president Lawrence Schovanec and Grant Stovall, Texas Tech's senior associate athletic director for student-athlete health and wellness -- said he understood why his AD colleagues had spoken out against the school allowing Sorsby to play this fall. Schovanec acknowledged that Sorsby "made a mistake" but Texas Tech is unwavering in its support of him. "Mistakes have consequences," Schovanec said. "At the same time, here's a young man with a dream and a vision to pursue a career. We felt not to have the opportunity to pursue that career, given the circumstances and the evolving changes in this world that these athletes face, was unfair and unjust." |
| College sports bill authors making pitch to Black caucus | |
| The authors of a Senate bill that would overhaul college athletics warned this week that a lack of congressional action this year could financially wreck historically Black colleges and universities and could reduce chances for college educations for minority students. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said they have been reaching out to members of the Congressional Black Caucus and want the group's input as they seek the necessary votes in both chambers. The CBC, however, has shown no signs of backing the bill. The caucus, which led the way in shelving a competing House measure in protest over a recent round of redistricting related to the voting power of Black voters, urged Cruz and Cantwell in a June 3 letter to "pause" action on their college athletics bill. A spokesperson for the CBC said Thursday that the June 3 letter remains the collective stance of the caucus. The group includes 58 House members and four senators. Cruz said Wednesday he would like both chambers to vote on the bipartisan measure before the fall college semester -- and athletics season -- begins. President Donald Trump has backed the Cruz-Cantwell bill. |
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