ESPN: MSU to open 2013 season against Oklahoma State in Houston

ESPN's Brett McMurphy reports this afternoon that Mississippi State and Oklahoma State are near finalizing a deal that would pit the two against each other to kick of the 2013 season in Houston, Texas. The game, to be played at the Houston Texans' Reliant Stadium, would be the first in an annual Labor Day weekend kickoff game, much like the Chick Fil A Kickoff Classic in Atlanta and the Cowboys Classic this year in Dallas. From McMurphy's report:

Reliant Stadium is creating an annual Labor Day weekend event, joining Atlanta's Georgia Dome and Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in hosting high-profile college football season opening contests.

We know that we reported this earlier based on a Fox26 report, but a report from McMurphy all but 100% guarantees the game will happen.

When asked about the deal Tuesday on his radio show, MSU AD Scott Stricklin would only say that the school had been approached about opening 2013 season against a Big 12 opponent. He also said at that time that nothing was finalized.

MSU AD Scott Stricklin said on his radio show Tue. MSU was approached about a neutral site game vs. B12 school for '13. Nothing finalized.

— bradlocke (@bradlocke) September 28, 2012