Mississippi State Upsets No. 6 Alabama, 1-0
Chiara Tappe's second-half-of-the-first-half corner-kick goal gives Mississippi State a regular-season finale win over the nationally ranked Crimson Tide.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Soccer
Mississippi State soccer defeated No. 6 Alabama 1-0 on Sunday in the regular season finale, with Chiara Tappe scoring in the 25th minute off a corner kick. The win closes a 9-2-6 regular season for the Bulldogs, who had already secured their postseason spot in Pensacola.
Why it matters
The victory was Mississippi State's first Top 50 win of the season, a result that strengthens the team's postseason profile after a year of scoreless draws. It also comes under head coach Kevin O'Brien, the program's third head coach in three years.
Tappe had two shots on target, and Mississippi State's first shot came 15 seconds into the match from Kyli Switalski. The team's season included five 0-0 draws and one 2-2 draw, and the extraction does not state how the result changed its tournament seeding.
The players
Kevin O'Brien
O'Brien is Mississippi State's head coach and the program's third head coach in three years, following the departure of his predecessor to a rival SEC program.
Chiara Tappe
Tappe is the Mississippi State forward who scored the match's only goal and recorded two shots on target against Alabama.
The details
Chiara Tappe scored in the 25th minute after getting onto the end of a cross before the Alabama goalkeeper could react, poking the ball home. Tappe and Kara Harris helped close the passing lanes in midfield, holding the advantage through the final whistle.
Timeline
Sunday, November 1, 2026: Mississippi State defeats No. 6 Alabama in the regular season finale.
Sunday, November 8, 2026, 5:30 p.m. ET: Mississippi State faces Texas in the SEC Tournament.
Season Trajectory
The win gives Mississippi State a late-season result against a nationally ranked SEC opponent as it enters the conference tournament. It sets up a Sunday, November 8 meeting with Texas that will determine how far the Bulldogs can advance in Pensacola.
The result secures Mississippi State's postseason position and sets an immediate tournament game against Texas on November 8. Fans can track the matchup in Pensacola as the Bulldogs seek to build on the season's late momentum.
The takeaway
Mississippi State's win over a nationally ranked opponent shows the team can compete at a high level late in the season. The upcoming SEC Tournament meeting with Texas will test whether that form carries into postseason play.
What happens next
Mississippi State faces Texas in the SEC Tournament on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Further reading
Follow more local coverage in Starkville Soccer.
