Alabama vs. Ole Miss 2023: Everything fans need to know

Alabama needs a big win.

Following the loss at home against Texas, the Crimson Tide looked shaky during the rainy first half of the South Florida game. Rotating two backup quarterbacks and braving the elements, the offense struggled. The bright side: The defense looked dominant, and they’ll need a similar performance as Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss Rebels visit Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

The former Bama offensive coordinator told America to get their popcorn ready moments before Nick Saban and the Tide unleashed a beatdown, so we think Kiffin will stay humble on the mic this time.

We’ve got all the info you need to make it through a whirlwind weekend in Tuscaloosa, so plan ahead and be safe. And oh yeah, Roll Tide.

Reminder: There are a few Bryant-Denny Stadium change you should know about for 2023, including the field upgrades, shaker bins, concession updates, locker room tours and more.

Here’s what you need to know about gameday at the Capstone this season. For even more information, visit the helpful UA Gameday website.

READ: Alabama football bucket list: 25 things every Crimson Tide fan should do once

WALK OF CHAMPIONS: 12:15 p.m.

GATES OPEN: 12:30 p.m.

ELEPHANT STOMP: 1:30 p.m.

PREGAME FLYOVER/KICKOFF: 2:30 p.m.

TV: CBS

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin chats with Alabama head coach Nick Saban before kickoff. The Alabama Crimson Tide host the Ole Miss Rebels in Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

THE GAME / PREDICTION

Alabama and Ole Miss will meet for the 71st time on Saturday. The Crimson Tide hold a sizeable 58-10-2 all-time advantage in the series, including a 28-2 mark in Tuscaloosa. Bama currently has a seven-game winning streak, including last season’s 30-24 nail-biter in Oxford. Nick Saban is 14-2 against the Rebels for his Alabama career, and he’s undefeated against former assistant Lane Kiffin.

Did you know? The Alabama-Ole Miss series dates back to 1894 and is the second-oldest in UA program history, trailing only Auburn (1893).

But every game is a different story, and the Tide have their hands full on Saturday. Kiffin will test Kevin Steele’s defense, and Alabama must find continuity on offense now that they’ve gone all-in on Jalen Milroe as starting quarterback. Maybe that means we’ll see Tommy Rees utilize Milroe’s speedy skill-set more than he has three games into the season (not including the South Florida game, when Milroe didn’t even play).

Prediction: Alabama 30, Ole Miss 24

WEATHER

Friday: Sunny skies with a high near 86, followed by clear skies and an overnight low around 63.

Saturday: Sunny skies with a high near 89, followed by clear skies and an overnight low around 63.

Sunday: Sunny skies with a high near 88, followed by cloudy skies with an overnight low around 67 and a 20 percent chance of showers.

— The National Weather Service

READ: 8 ways Alabama football home games will change for fans in 2023

Alabama Football Fans Mercer 2021 — The Tuska statue on its first gameday. Alabama and Mercer football fans hit the Quad, Walk of Champions and more for tailgating and other pregame action before the home opener in Tuscaloosa Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

CHAMPIONS LANE

An extension of Crimson Tide Sports Marketing’s pregame entertainment, “Champions Lane” is a new free feature that will be located to the northwest of Bryant-Denny Stadium on the lawn behind the Tuska statue and will include food trucks, a sound stage with live music, lounge with casual seating, LED videoboards for fans to watch other college football games in action, Crimson Tide student-athlete autograph tent and more. See the map below.

The Bud Light Backyard Concert Stage will feature live music all season. on Saturday, you can see Jackson Chase perform at 10:30 a.m., and then David Lewis at 12:30 p.m.

LOCKER ROOM TOURS / SOUVENIR TICKETS

Fans can now purchase behind-the-scenes locker room tours on Fridays before home games for $25 per person. Alabama ticketing went fully paperless during COVID in 2020, and now UA says fans can buy a souvenir printed game ticket ($15 each). They say you can inquire about both via the Crimson Tide Access program.

Alabama Football Fans Ole Miss 2021 — A shaker gets shook as Alabama and Ole Miss fans hit the “SEC Nation” set before kickoff Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

SHAKER BINS

Fans will find shaker bins throughout the concourses of Bryant-Denny Stadium, allowing them to pick up a complimentary shaker upon entry to use for the game and return on the way out.

HONORARY CAPTAIN AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS

For home games, honorary captains will sign autographs at the Bryant Museum starting several hours before kickoff. They will then move to The Authentic (Alabama’s player-merchandise store), located at Gate 34 on the south end of Bryant-Denny, for another autograph session 3.5 hours prior to kickoff, which will last an hour.

This week, fans can see Johnny Musso and Scott Hunter. Along with their session at Bryant Museum from 10-11 a.m., they will appear at The Authentic starting at 11 a.m.

CASH-FREE

All points of sale at Alabama athletics events for concessions and retail went cashless. Fans with cash can exchange for a Fancard in $20 increments in the stadium’s Fan Card Gift Card station.

Each location will have a team member to assist guests who require this service. UA said Fancards are a preloaded Mastercard with no activation fees. These can not only be used at stadium concessions but also anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

CONCESSIONS

Concession stands are located throughout the concourses of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Reminder: All concession transactions are cashless.

Alabama announced that five of Bryant-Denny’s highest-volume concession stands were converted to grab and go markets where fans can grab items and proceed to check out faster. Automated self-checkout kiosks will be available at several concession stands throughout the stadium, allowing fans the ability to choose the method they prefer. The site also says multiple beverage and popcorn vending options have also been added “for ease and quickness.”

Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne also tweeted in August he would soon share price reductions on concession food and drink soon, but these are not listed online yet. Fans who attended the first two home games noticed a few reductions including Denny Dogs costing $3.99, but also some increases including beers both domestic ($10.49) and premium ($11.49), each up about a buck from last year. Souvenir sodas/cups are still $9.99.

TAILGATING

Free Quad tailgating is located on the west side of the Quad. Reservations are not required. Quad tailgate supply drop-off is located on Colonial Dr. and is open during the following times: Friday at 6-8 p.m. and Saturday at 7-10 a.m.. View the Quad drop-off map. The UA Gameday Info tent is located at the corner of 9th Avenue and University Boulevard. Fans are permitted 15 minutes to unload equipment and exit Colonial Dr.

Quad tailgate supply drop-off is located on Colonial Dr. and is open during the following times:

Friday 6-8 p.m.
Gameday 7-10 a.m.

MOBILE TICKETING

In 2020, ticketing and parking went mobile-only, providing a safe fan experience with quick and convenient entry on gameday during the pandemic. UA said mobile ticketing reduces the risk of lost, stolen or counterfeit tickets while providing the ability to easily manage, transfer or sell your tickets anytime from your smartphone, so the system will remain in effect.

You can manage their tickets on their smartphone via the Alabama Crimson Tide mobile app or online at RollTide.com/MyAccount. UA encourages fans to download their tickets before gameday. Prior to reaching the Bryant-Denny gates, fans can open their digital wallet on their smartphone, select their game tickets or parking passes, and hold their smartphone near the scanner for entry.

Alabama announced an enhancement to mobile ticketing this year called ALL-IN-1, a smart ticket that simplifies the digital wallet experience. They provided these instructions:

All season tickets, season meal passes, and season parking passes are eligible for ALL-IN-1.
Add each ALL-IN-1 ticket once per seat to your digital wallet.
After the game, ALL-IN-1 pass automatically updates to the next event in the season.
The ALL-IN-1 pass will update if tickets are transferred, and you can still transfer and manage eligible tickets from My Account.

Visit the Alabama mobile ticketing page to learn more.

TICKET TRANSFER/DONATION

UA says season ticketholders may transfer their tickets to another customer by logging into their account and selecting the specific events to transfer under the My Account page. Ticket transfers are now free. You may transfer your tickets up until kickoff.

You can also electronically donate your season tickets back to Alabama Athletics. The tickets will then be donated to those fans who don’t normally receive an opportunity to attend an Alabama athletics event. Ticket donation is free. You may donate your tickets up until 48 hours prior to any event.

STADIUM ENTRY / CLEAR BAG POLICY

Bryant-Denny Stadium has a 360-degree security perimeter. UA encourages fans to queue at the first public security checkpoints located around the stadium. Once inside the security perimeter, navigate to the gate indicated on your ticket. There are six public security checkpoints located around the stadium, which allow guests to navigate to any ticketed gate after clearing security.

UA has walk-through metal detectors at all gates of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Fans do not need to remove shoes or belts to walk through the metal detectors.

Alabama also enforces a clear bag policy in the interest of public safety and to expedite entry into Bryant-Denny Stadium. The only non-clear plastic bag fans can bring into Bryant-Denny is a small clutch purse no larger than 4 1/2 inches-by-6 1/2 inches. If any larger, the bags must be clear and plastic. Fans can also bring in one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags, similar to Ziploc bags you buy at the grocery store. Learn more about the clear bag policy.

COOLING STATIONS

It’s hot in Alabama this time of year — really hot. So UA wants to help you stay cool on gamedays. Cooling stations will include water monsters, fans, shaded seating, sunscreen and first aid staff are located at the locations featured on this map.

Water Monsters featuring 150-gallon tanks of cold filtered water are located throughout Bryant-Denny Stadium to assist fans in staying cool and hydrated. Fans are permitted to bring empty, non-glass, bottles/cups inside to fill up at the various water stations. Small cups will also be provided next to the canister.

TRAFFIC

UA has provided four clearly defined routes designed to provide fans with the most time-efficient ways to and from campus. Read their pregame and postgame traffic maps.

The Cottondale and 216 routes are best for fans traveling from Birmingham and parking on the east side of campus.

The I-359 route is best for fans traveling from Birmingham or west of Tuscaloosa and parking downtown or on the west side of campus.

The McFarland route is best for fans traveling from Birmingham and parking on the east side of campus.

Construction on I-20/59 is complete. There are now three lanes through exit 73, McFarland Blvd.

Construction on Lurleen B. Wallace Blvd. north and south is complete. There are now three lanes through downtown for fans utilizing the I-359/Downtown Tuscaloosa route.

Core campus roadblocks are established 4 hours prior to kickoff
Core campus roadblocks will be enforced at 10:30 a.m.
Campus roadblocks do not affect public parking areas
Fans are encouraged to use the McFarland Route to campus
Rideshare pickup/drop-off is available at two locations on campus

PARKING

UA parking lots open at 7 a.m. Crimson Ride shuttles are free from the east campus parking areas. Begins at 7 a.m., concludes 90 minutes post-game. For more parking information, visit the UA Gameday website.

Public parking is $35 per game.
Reserved parking is sold out for the Ole Miss game.
Accessible parking spaces are available in public parking lots. Accessible parking spaces are also available in the Transit Hub Deck on Saturday.
Lots open at 7 a.m. on gameday.
Free shuttle service from public parking is provided to & from the Quad. All shuttles are accessible.
Shuttle service begins at 7 a.m. on Gameday and concludes 90 minutes postgame.