STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - Mississippi State has dropped Mississippi Valley State from its 2013 football schedule because the win would not have counted towards the Bulldogs' bowl eligibility, a team spokesman confirmed to WTVA on Wednesday.
Each FBS school is allowed to count one game against an FCS opponent towards its bowl eligibility each season. However, that FCS school must distribute at least 90% of its allowable scholarships to be counted.
The Delta Devils would not qualify under that rule, and so the game would not have counted towards Mississippi State's bowl eligibility.
The Bulldogs' 2013 schedule contains a road game at UAB (Sept. 3) and home games against Troy (Sept. 21), and Bowling Green (Oct. 12). The non-conference schedule is in addition to MSU's in-conference matchups, including the annual Egg Bowl against Ole Miss on November 30 in Starkville.
There has not been an announcement as to a potential replacement opponent for MVSU.
