Missouri State football adds Cincinnati to 2027 schedule

Missouri State football will play a second Big 12 opponent to open the 2027 season , according to a national report.

FBSchedules.com reported Thursday afternoon the Bears will travel to play Cincinnati on Sept. 11, 2027. The website reported that the Bearcats would pay Missouri State a $1.125 million guarantee to play the game.

The game marks the first seven-figure deal for Missouri State in a guarantee payment. Such payments will continue to increase with the football program joining the FBS ranks in Conference USA.

More: All of our 2024 Missouri State, high school football preseason coverage in one place

Currently, Missouri State opens the 2027 season at Kansas on Sept. 4. The game carries a $500,000 guarantee payment although it appears the university will likely attempt to renegotiate game contracts that were signed before it announced it was moving up a subdivision.

Missouri State recently paid $150,000 to back out of its 2025 opener at Arkansas when the Razorbacks wouldn't renegotiate. According to a university spokesperson, Missouri State will announce a replacement game soon after the contract is finalized. The replacement game will likely carry a larger guarantee than the $500,000 the Bears were set to make from Arkansas.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State football adds Cincinnati to 2027 schedule