| Year: | 1938 |
| Team: | Mississippi State Maroons |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Record: | 4–6 |
| Conf Record: | 1–4 |
| Head Coach: | Spike Nelson |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Scott Field |
The 1938 Mississippi State Maroons football team was an American football team that represented Mississippi State College (now known as Mississippi State University) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1938 college football season. In their first year under head coach Spike Nelson, the Maroons complied an overall record of 4–6, with a conference record of 1–4, and finished 11th in the SEC.[1]
Spike Nelson took over as head coach after the sudden resignation of Ralph Sasse. Nelson instituted new cardinal and gold uniforms, rather than the traditional maroon and white, upsetting fans and alumni.[2] Nelson also proved unpopular with players and was not retained after the season.[3]