Mississippi State hosts Alabama on Saturday, October 3, at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. According to the school’s gameday site, gates open at 9 a.m. and kickoff is at 11 a.m. local time. The Bulldogs are calling it a Stripe Out, with a parachute jump team planned for the pregame. Starkville is a small college town, so a little planning goes a long way.
Bulldogs home games still to come
Mississippi State’s 2026 home schedule lists four more dates after Alabama: Oklahoma on October 24 (a Black Out), Vanderbilt on November 7 (Homecoming), Auburn on November 14 (Military Appreciation Day) and Tennessee Tech on November 21 (Senior Day). Kickoff times were not part of that announcement, so check the official schedule before you book travel.
Parking at Davis Wade Stadium
The school has lowered public parking at four lots to $10 per vehicle: Research Park, ADA North, ADA South and the Vet School. Mississippi State has also partnered with Parking Management Company on a new parking sales site, so you can buy a space in advance online or pay on the spot at the lot.
Lot locations, shuttle routes and times can change from game to game. HailState.com/Gameday is the school’s planning hub for parking, wayfinding and concessions, so check it the day before you drive in.
Clear bag rule and what to leave behind
Davis Wade Stadium only admits clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch of 4.5 by 6.5 inches or less, with or without a strap. Purses, backpacks, drawstring bags, fanny packs and camera cases are not allowed.
You can bring a stadium chair without arms or pockets, a seat cushion without pockets, and one clear factory-sealed water bottle up to one liter. Empty stainless steel bottles of the same size are also permitted. Outside food and drinks, umbrellas, tripods, selfie sticks, drones, professional cameras with detachable lenses and smoking or vaping are all prohibited. If you arrive with something on the list, you will be sent back to your vehicle before your ticket is scanned.
Sensory bags with noise-reducing headphones are available while supplies last at the guest information tables at West Gate A, North Section 09 and East Gate L.
What is new inside the stadium
The stadium seats more than 60,000. For 2026 the school installed a new distributed antenna system for stronger cell service, expanded the LED light show and added more pyrotechnics, so expect a louder, brighter pregame than a few seasons ago.
More SEC gameday guides
Planning a bigger football road trip? See our guides to Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi and Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
Sources: Mississippi State Athletics (Davis Wade Stadium gameday site, 2026 stadium update and clear bag policy). Rules and times can change, so check hailstate.com before you travel.
Photo: PCN02WPS, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
