Gameday: Football Set For Homecoming Tilt With Abilene Christian

Saturday, November 23

Starkville

6:30 PM

Mississippi State

Abilene Christian [HC]

Tickets

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

Gameday: Football Set For Homecoming Tilt With Abilene Christian

November 22, 2019 | Football

HailState.com/Gameday Watch Live Listen Live Live Stats Game Notes Look: Adidas “Selfless” Uniform Buy Tickets

by Brandon Langlois

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State will play its first night game at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday, when the Bulldogs host Abilene Christian of the Southland Conference for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be televised on SEC Network Alternate. Mark Neely (play-by-play), Hutson Mason (analyst) and Dr. Jerry Punch (sideline) will call the action. This will be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Wildcats.

For complete game day information, visit HailState.com/gameday.

With metal detector security screening in place, fans are strongly encouraged to arrive at Davis Wade Stadium gates in advance of 45 minutes prior to kickoff to ensure a smooth entry. For complete metal detector entry procedures, visit HailState.com/metaldetector.

Viewing Information
Live streaming of the game will also be available here via WatchESPN.

Listening Information
The MSU Sports Network C Spire Tailgate Show goes live at 4:30 p.m. Neil Price, Matt Wyatt and Jay Perry will call the game on the network (check for affiliates here). Live audio is also available for FREE at HailState.com and via the TuneIn app. Fans in Starkville and inside the stadium can tune to 100.9 FM.

Numbers To Know

621 - RB Kylin Hill leads the SEC and ranks 10th in the Power 5 with 621 rushing yards after contact this season

230 - State has featured one of the most dominant ground attacks in the FBS since 2016, averaging an SEC-best 230.0 yards per game

39.2 - CB Cameron Dantzler ranks third in the SEC among cornerbacks with a 39.2 passer rating allowed this season (minimum 15 targets)

20 - MSU has relied heavily on its freshmen this season with 20 such players (10 true, 10 redshirt) having played in at least one game

14 - MSU has won 14 in a row over FCS teams (last loss was 9-7 to Maine in 2004)

9 - RB Kylin Hill is tied with Dak Prescott and Don Smith for 10th in MSU history with nine 100-yard rushing games (has 6 this season)

Storylines

MSU owns a 56-21-3 all-time record in Homecoming games. State has won nine straight Homecoming games, defeating UAB, UT Martin (twice), Middle Tennessee, Bowling Green, Louisiana Tech (twice), Samford and Kentucky. MSU has won 12 out of its last 13 Homecoming games. The only loss during that stretch was to Houston on Oct. 10, 2009, 31-24.

State has won 41 of its last 48 non-conference games, including postseason contests, and the Bulldogs have won 11 of their last 12 against non-conference teams during the regular season.

The Bulldogs go into Saturday's game sporting a 7-0 all-time mark against current teams from the Southland Conference. State has faced Northwestern State more than any other Southland Conference team and owns a 3-0 record against the Demons. MSU is 2-0 vs. Lamar, 1-0 vs. Southeastern Louisiana and 1-0 vs. Stephen F. Austin. The last Southland Conference team the Bulldogs played was Stephen F. Austin last season. The Bulldogs won that game, 63-6, in Starkville to open the Joe Moorhead era and produced 618 yards of total offense, the fifth-best offensive output in program history.
Entering Week 13, the Bulldogs are No. 2 nationally in Strength of Schedule (Sagarin) behind Auburn and ahead of Michigan State, Iowa State and South Carolina. MSU's opponents have posted a 66-34 record, which ranks second nationally.
RB Kylin Hill scored a rushing touchdown for the 10th time this season last Saturday against No. 5 Alabama. Hill, who has rushed for 1,062 yards this season, is the only SEC player with 1,000+ rushing yards and 10+ rushing TDs this season. Hill has not lost a fumble in 387 career carries at MSU. In fact, he hasn't lost a fumble since his sophomore year of high school.

LB Erroll Thompson is the Bulldogs' leading tackler (72), averaging 7.2 per game. Thompson is just 15 tackles away from matching his 2018 total (87). He is tied for the SEC lead in QB hits (5) according to Pro Football Focus. Thompson had a solid game last week against No. 5 Alabama, leading the team in tackles (9), recording a half sack and 1.0 TFL.

Six different Bulldogs have combined for seven interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. After LB Willie Gay Jr.'s pick-six vs. Kentucky on Sept. 21 and S Marcus Murphy's pick-six at Arkansas on Nov. 2, State is the only SEC team with multiple interceptions returned for a touchdown against conference opponents this season.

DE Marquiss Spencer has collected 3.0 tackles for loss over the last three games. Spencer leads the Bulldogs in total pressures (21) and has registered multiple pressures in five of the last six games.

Tickets
The Davis Wade Stadium ticket office opens at 3:30 p.m. and all gates will open at 4:15 p.m. Tickets are also available for purchase on HailState.com.

"Dawg Walk"
The "Dawg Walk" will take place at 4:15 p.m., in The Junction.

What To Wear
Wear Black

Social Media/Live Stats
Live updates from the game are available via MSU's official social media channels: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (click the links). Live stats are available via Stat Broadcast at MSU.StatBroadcast.com.

Special Recognitions & Performances:

Performances by Famous Maroon Band & MSU Spirit Squads
2019-20 Women's Tennis Team Recognition
2019-20 Men's Track & Field Team Recognition
Recognition of 2020 Mississippi Distinguished Young Woman, Becky Williams
Recognition of Former Diamond Dawg for MSU Baseball Alumni Weekend
Salute to Service Honoring Military Veteran
Special Homecoming Halftime Performance by Famous Maroon Band
Introduction of 2019 Homecoming Court + Mr. & Miss MSU

Clear Bag Policy
Fans are encouraged not to bring any types of bags inside SEC stadiums during football games; however, the following outlines bags that are permitted:

Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12";
One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bag or similar); and
Small clutch bags, with or without a handle or strap, that do not exceed 4.5" x 6.5" (approximately the size of a hand).
An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at Gates F and I.
An approved logo no larger than 4.5" x 3.4" may be displayed on one side of a permissible clear bag.

For the complete clear bag policy, including an FAQ, visit HailState.com/clearbag.

Gameday Questions?
For complete gameday information including, parking maps, road closures, traffic, and other important game day schedule and fan and visitor guides, visit HailState.com/gameday. Fans with game day questions, can tweet @HailStateFamily, the new official fan service and game day information hub of Mississippi State Athletics.

Parking
For MSU Football Gameday Parking locations/lots, please see this map. (PDF)

Advanced Purchase Parking
Advance purchase game day parking spaces in all public parking lots go on sale at HailState.com/tickets beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday and continuing until 11 p.m. Friday. View the parking map here (PDF). MSU will comply with MDOT regulations in regards to parking on ramps.

Parking Guidelines/ADA
To encourage fans to "park & ride" MSU Transit Buses and best utilize all available public game day parking spaces, MSU has reduced all public parking prices at the Research Park, ADA North, ADA South and Vet School to $10 per vehicle. (vehicle and trailer is $20). Cash and Credit / Debit Cards are accepted at the Research Park, ADA North, ADA South, and Vet School.

All public parking lots located in the interior of campus have increased in price to $30 per vehicle, (vehicle and trailer is $60). Credit / Debit Cards Only - NO CASH will be accepted at interior campus public parking lots. These lots include Bully Grass, Barr Paved, Pace Seed Grass, Sorority Grass, Sponsored Parking behind the Health Center and Roberts Building, The University Bridge Lot, and Zacharias Village Lot.

You can advance purchase game day parking space in all public parking lots each game week by visiting www.hailstate.com/tickets. Advance sales end at 11 p.m. the day before the game.

No tents, tables or chairs are permitted in parking spaces or on sidewalks.
Parking on grass is permitted only in designated areas. (Available to general public)
No parking is allowed on parking lot islands, medians, berms, or the shoulders of streets and roads.
Parked vehicles must not obstruct traffic or pedestrian access to sidewalks.
Parking spaces cannot be saved.

Tailgating is permitted only in areas where traffic or parking is not obstructed and tailgaters must follow all picnic zone regulations.
Parking areas must be cleared by 7 a.m. the day following the game.
Reserved lot passes must be displayed at all times; misuse will result in loss of parking privileges.
All buses must enter campus at the intersection of Hwy. 182 and George Perry St., turn east (left) on Bailey Howell Drive to Lee Blvd., and turn west (right) on Lee Blvd. to bus parking. Bus parking is available in front of Hilbun and Harned Halls (see map). Buses must exit campus via George Perry St. by turning north onto George Perry St. from Lee Blvd.

REMINDER: Center campus roads close four (4) hours before kickoff (please see this map for road closure information (PDF)).

Please see this map for ADA parking lots. (PDF) On the map legend, ADA parking is blue. ADA season pass parking is light blue and is marked as Lots A, B, C, D, and F.

ADA public parking is now located in two parking lots. North ADA parking is located at the Research Park, off of Hwy 182. South ADA parking is located at the Animal and Dairy Science Building, off of Hailstate Blvd.

ADA Lot D parking passes are available for online purchase during the week of each home game. You may purchase online an individual game parking pass for "Public ADA Lot D" by visiting Hailstate.com/tickets. Public ADA Lot D Parking pass sales close on Friday at 11 p.m. before the game. After purchasing online an individual game parking pass for "ADA Lot D", you simply print your parking pass at home and bring the parking pass to the game to be scanned to enter the parking lot for that day's game, you must also show your ADA hang tag or ADA license plate to access ADA Lot D. Failure to provide authentic ADA documentation for your vehicle will result in you being denied entry to ADA Lot D. If you choose this option, you will need to purchase your parking pass each week prior to that home game. There will be no "ADA Lot D" parking passes sold the day of the game or at the entrance to the parking lot.

ADA Transit Services begin 4 hrs. prior to kickoff, and service North ADA Parking Lot passengers to and from the Old Main Academic Building bus terminal, and service South ADA Parking Lot passengers to and from Newell-Grissom Building terminal. All Transit Buses operate for 2 hrs. after the end of the game.

Disability Carts will be available to provide access from ADA Transit Terminals at Old Main and Newell Grissom to designated DWS locations.

Old Main Academic Disability Carts will operate between the SE corner of DWS-Gate L and OMAC. (Click here for map) (PDF)
Newell Grissom Disability Carts will operate between the NW corner of DWS-Gate F and NG. (Click here for map) (PDF)

Smoke Free Campus
Davis Wade Stadium is a clear air facility. Smoking in any form is prohibited on campus. For more details, visit smokefree.msstate.edu.

For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."