It’s homecoming week in Tuscaloosa, which means so many awesome Alabama traditions you and the whole family can enjoy.

From the pep rally to the bonfire to the homecoming parade, we’ve got you covered on where to be in T-Town this weekend as the Crimson Tide face off against Mississippi State in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Here’s what you need to know…

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

PARADE: Noon

GATES OPEN: 3:30 p.m.

WALK OF CHAMPIONS: 3:45 p.m.

ELEPHANT STOMP: 5 p.m.

KICKOFF: 6 p.m.

TV: ESPN

THE GAME!

Alabama fans woke up last Sunday morning and saw the sun came up, the sky was no longer falling and the Crimson Tide still had everything in front of them after suffering a tough road loss in Knoxville.

And while Nick Saban’s team can achieve every goal they had entering the season, it will not get any easier as they continue down another dangerous SEC path, starting with this week’s game against Mississippi State and Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” offense led by talented quarterback Will Rogers.

While Bama set a school record for penalties and the defense did not play to their standard, Bryce Young looks healthy as they look to save the season. The Tide dominated the Bulldogs in Starkville last year, but you can bet Leach, Rogers and the rest of the team in maroon smells blood in the water after last week’s performance.

Can the Alabama defense regroup and get more pressure on the QB? Will the Tide offense continue to click when it matters most?

HOMECOMING EVENTS

Friday, Oct. 21

You can see the amazing lawn decorations by University of Alabama sororities and other student organizations, plus businesses participating in the Paint the Town Red competition beginning around noon Friday.

Pep Rally/Bonfire and Homecoming Queen crowning: 6:30 p.m., the Quad.

Step Show, sponsored by National Panhellenic Council: 8:30 p.m., Coleman Coliseum. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are required and this event is also open to alumni and community members.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Homecoming Parade: Noon. Location: Downtown Tuscaloosa to UA Campus along University Boulevard.

WEATHER

Friday: Sunny skies with a high near 75, followed by clear skies and an overnight low around 52.

Saturday: Sunny skies with a high near 76, followed by cloudy skies and an overnight low around 51.

Sunday: Sunny skies with a high near 78, followed by cloudy skies and an overnight low around 51.

— The National Weather Service

CASH-FREE

Beginning in 2022, all points of sale at Alabama athletics events for concessions and retail will be cashless. Fans with cash can exchange for a Fancard in $20 increments in two locations in the stadium: Lower Level (first Floor), Section AA (near Concession S126); and Upper Level (eighth Floor), Section NN-8 (near Concession N804).

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.

ALCOHOL SALES

Alabama Athletics now sells beer and wine at select sporting events.

The majority of concessions locations offer beer and wine, and additional portable stations are set up on the 100, 200 and 800-level concourses. Guests must be 21 to purchase and show valid proof of identification. IDs are checked at time of purchase, and there is a limit of two alcoholic beverages per transaction. Sales of beer and wine concludes at the completion of the third quarter.

UA said alcohol purchased in the stadium concourses cannot be brought into or out of a premium seating area, and all alcohol purchased at sporting events must be consumed at the venue and may not be carried out “under any circumstances.”

CONCESSIONS

Concession stands are located throughout the concourses of Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Crave trailer is set up along the Walk of Champions as a pre-entry dining option.

Reminder: All concession transactions will be cashless.

ASAP will be available for mobile ordering at select portables throughout 100, 200 and 800-level concourses. You can find QR codes with a link to order and pick up concessions items from your smartphone throughout the stadium.

And, folks…they have a $14 giant pretzel now. People buying and gobbling them up at the Louisiana-Monroe game, so if you want to indulge, grab one early.

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 a.m. until noon (for Texas A&M). Fans are permitted 15 minutes to unload equipment and exit Colonial Drive. View the Quad drop-off map. The UA Gameday Info tent is located at the corner of 9th Avenue and University Boulevard.

FOOD VENDORS

You can find the following food trucks along 6th Avenue on campus this Saturday:

• Jim ‘N Nick’s
• Full Moon BBQ
• A Little Some Extra
• La Mexicana
• Honey’s Kitchen

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 will reduce 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.

UA noted that “Print-at-Home” tickets (PDF copies) are no longer available, and mobile tickets are only valid when presented on a smartphone. Printed copies of QR codes will not be accepted. If you do not have a smartphone, you can contact the Alabama Athletics TIDE PRIDE/Ticket Office before gamedays for options.

TICKET TRANSFER

UA also announced some new upgrades to mobile ticketing in 2022. The transfer process will now allow you to utilize your phone contacts when transferring tickets through the Alabama Crimson Tide mobile app. Also, there will no longer be a transfer expiration, and you have the ability to better track your transfers with a first and last name associated with all transfers. Ticket purchasers can also quick download their game tickets by using our new “Add All” feature.

Ticketholders can transfer their tickets to someone in the event they are unable to attend a game. Ticketholders (excluding UA faculty/staff and students) can still post their tickets on StubHub.

METAL DETECTORS / CLEAR BAG POLICY

UA will have 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 will also continue to enforce its clear bag policy in the interest of public safety and to significantly 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.

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.

Beginning three hours prior to kickoff, or earlier if deemed necessary by law enforcement, the core campus area will be closed to through traffic. A proper UA Gameday permit is required to access the restricted area. The core of campus will be re-opened approximately 2.5 hours postgame. Learn more.

Interstate 20/59 construction has been completed and should not interfere with gameday traffic for the 2022 football season. Jack Warner Parkway is closed at Greensboro Avenue for the season. UA encourages fans leaving campus via Jack Warner Parkway to travel eastbound and utilize McFarland Boulevard to I-20/59.

Jack Warner Parkway is closed at Greensboro Avenue for the 2022 season. Fans leaving campus via Jack Warner Parkway are encouraged to travel eastbound and utilize McFarland Blvd. to I-20/59.

PARKING

Public parking is located on the east side of campus and is $30 per game or $200 for the season. Fans are encouraged to purchase their parking in advance of coming to campus online. Downtown Tuscaloosa shuttle begins at 8 a.m. at the Intermodal Facility (7th Street and 23rd Avenue), where parking is free. Shuttle is $1 round trip and 50 cents for seniors. University Mall shuttle begins at 7 a.m. and is $15 round trip. Concludes one hour post-game.

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.

TUSKA

Have you snapped a selfie with Tuska yet? The elephant statue has landed. The University of Alabama recently relocated of a seven-ton, 19-foot elephant statue named Tuska to the corner of University Boulevard and Wallace Wade Avenue, where the Strip meets campus — not far from near Bryant-Denny Stadium. The statue depicts the elephant looking skyward with his two front feet slightly off the ground and trunk fully extended. It measures 19 feet, 1 inch to the tip of the trunk.

TWITTER

Stay up to date before, during and after the game by following AL.com’s Michael Casagrande, Nick Alvarez, Ben Flanagan, aldotcomTide or aldotcomSports on Twitter.

You can also follow UAGameday on Twitter for constant updates about this weekend’s festivities.

WILL CALL

The Will Call window will open at 2 p.m. and is located between Gates 32 and 33 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. All gates open at 3:30 p.m. Will Call windows were added to the northeast corner of Bryant-Denny Stadium near Gate 59, which will service both the media and visiting team player guests.

STORIES YOU WILL LOVE

SEC football’s 14 funniest characters this century

What you need to know before Alabama-Mississippi State

What kept Nick Saban up at night this week

What Nick Saban said on his weekly radio show

The Mississippi State Report: Alabama on Bulldogs, Air Raid offense

Archie, Bo, Johnny Football & 14 other all-time ‘Bama-killers’

‘BAMMERS’ PODCAST

“Bammers,” the podcast from AL.com that takes you inside the hearts and minds of Alabama football fans, is back and ready for download! The show focuses on fans’ obsession with the Crimson Tide and the lengths at which they’ll go with their fandom. You can hear more than 20 episodes that cover a variety of topics including Sidewalk Alumni, The Shula Years, RV Culture, Women who Love Alabama Football, How Alabama Fans Cope with Losing and much more. Subscribe on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Listen to every episode!

IMPORTANT TIMES

FRIDAY, Oct. 21

6 p.m.

Quad Drop-off

7 p.m.

Pep Rally & Bonfire (Quad)

SATURDAY, Oct. 8

7 a.m.

Quad Drop-off

Parking Lots Open

Shuttle Service Begins

9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Bryant Museum open

11:30 a.m.

Quad inflatables

12 p.m.

Homecoming Parade (University Boulevard)

Autograph session with George Teague and Prince Wimbley (Bryant Museum)

Core campus road closures

2 p.m.

Coca-Cola Kickoff Zone open

Crimson Tide Sports Network Fan Fest (Food vendors: Fat Charles BBQ, Dixieland Funnel Cakes)

2:30 p.m.

Autograph session with George Teague and Prince Wimbley (Hibbett Sports Tent/Coca-Cola Kickoff Zone)

Team autographs: Alabama Gymnastics (Denny Chimes)

3:30 p.m.

Gates open

3:45 p.m.

Walk of Champions

5 p.m.

Elephant Stomp

6 p.m.

Kickoff vs. Mississippi State (ESPN