OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: MSU to open with Oklahoma State in 2013

Okay, so this is the third (and final!) report on this - but it is finally officially official: Mississippi State and Oklahoma State will open the 2013 season August 31st at Houston's Reliant Stadium in the inaugural Texas Kickoff Classic.

The report was finally confirmed by Oklahoma State's Athletics Department today, after weeks, no months, of speculation that the game was coming to fruition.

Here's a bit from the school's official announcement:

"We are excited to work with the Texans and Lone Star Sports and Entertainment to bring a Labor Day weekend football game to the city of Houston," said Pete Derzis, Senior Vice President and General Manager of ESPN Regional Television. "A game of this caliber serves as a great complement to our postseason college football bowl game played at Reliant Stadium."

ESPN is the creator of the game, working in conjunction with the Houston Texans and Lone Star Sports and Entertainment. Houston joins Dallas and Houston in hosting Labor Day weekend neutral site games.

Oklahoma State last played a neutral-site game during the regular season in 1998 when the Cowboys faced Nebraska in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

"We're excited to open the season in Houston," said Mike Holder, OSU Director of Athletics. "We have a growing number of Texans attending Oklahoma State and a large alumni base in the area. We will be playing a high-profile season opener in a great stadium. I think our fans will be eager for this matchup all summer."

This report comes still weeks after ESPN's Brett McMurphy reported the deal was near completion, and if you know anything about Brett, you know his sources typically signify it's a done deal.

It's nice to finally have this out there and official, so fans can start making plans to be in Houston to open the season next year.

Are you excited about this, State fans? I sure am. I may even postpone my annual Smith Lake trip to venture to Houston. MAY, being the key word.

(h/t Brandon Marcello)