Alabama vs. Arkansas football 2023: Everything fans need to know

Alabama is on a roll.

After losing the second game of the season to Texas, the Crimson Tide have notched a 4-game winning streak heading into homecoming week in Tuscaloosa with the Arkansas Razorbacks coming to town for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Saturday.

The Hogs will look to give Alabama trouble, just as they did two years ago in Bryant-Denny Stadium. But the Tide will look build on their momentum, and on the momentous occasion of homecoming weekend, which gives fans and families so much to do and so many memories to make each year.

We’ve got all the info you need to make it through the weekend in Tuscaloosa, including the pep rally, bonfire, parade and much more.

And remember to set your alarms. All your favorite pregame traditions are happening much earlier than usual.

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

PARADE: 7 a.m.

WALK OF CHAMPIONS: 9 a.m.

GATES OPEN: 9 a.m.

ELEPHANT STOMP: 10 a.m.

PREGAME FLYOVER/KICKOFF: 11 a.m.

TV: ESPN

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4). The Alabama Crimson Tide football team face the Ole Miss Rebels in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

THE GAME / PREDICTION

Alabama and Arkansas will meet for just the 34th time, if you can believe that.

Alabama won last year’s game in Fayetteville 49-26 behind the backup heroics of Jalen Milroe when Bryce Young went down with a shoulder injury. Nick Saban and the Tide have now won 16 straight against the Razorbacks, marking an undefeated record in his tenure in Tuscaloosa. The last time the Hogs came to town, they gave Bama a real scare in a 42-35 shootout. Head coach Sam Pittman and quarterback KJ Jefferson will look for a signature win in a tough but competitive 2023 season so far.

Milroe played his best game of the year so far in last week’s road win against Texas A&M, and he has improved each week. Look for steadier play in the pocket with precise downfield passing. Arkansas will stay aggressive on defense, but if Alabama’s work-in-progress offensive line can protect him, he will find receivers like Jermaine Burton deep.

Prediction: Alabama 34, Arkansas 24

MORE: AL.com college football staff picks for Week 7 of 2023

Alabama Homecoming Parade 2019 — The University of Alabama homecoming parade in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

HOMECOMING EVENTS

FRIDAY, Oct. 13

Pep Rally/Bonfire & Queen Crowning

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Quad

Step Show Sponsored by NPHC

Event Time: 8:30 p.m.; Doors Open at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Coleman Coliseum

Purchase Stepshow Tickets

SATURDAY, Oct. 14

Homecoming Parade Line Up

Time: 5 a.m.

Location: Coleman Coliseum

Details provided at Mandatory Meeting and Via Email

Homecoming Parade

Time: 7 a.m.

Location: UA Campus to Downtown Tuscaloosa

WEATHER

Friday: Cloudy skies with a high near 74, followed by cloudy skies and an overnight low around 61.

Saturday: Sunny skies with a high near 77, followed by clear skies and an overnight low around 53.

Sunday: Sunny skies with a high near 64, followe dby cloudy skies and an overnight low around 48.

— 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.

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 Fans in the Stands 2023: MTSU — Alabama football fans cheer from the Bryant-Denny Stadium stands and other sights from the Crimson Tide’s 56-7 win over Middle Tennessee State in Tuscaloosa Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (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 typically 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.

But because kickoff is so early this week (11 a.m.), fans can see Dwight Stephenson and Alan Gray at Bryant Museum on Friday from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Other autograph sessions include Alabama men’s golf athletes Thomas Ponder, JP Cave and Canon Claycomb in the tent at Champions Lane on the north lawn of Bryant-Denny Stadium, at 9-10 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 5-6:30 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 5-6:30 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.

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 6 a.m. Crimson Ride shuttles are free from the east campus parking areas. Begins at 6 a.m., concludes 90 minutes post-game. For more parking information, visit the UA Gameday website.

Public parking is $35 per 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 6 a.m. on gameday.
Free shuttle service from public parking is provided to & from the Quad. All shuttles are accessible.
Shuttle service begins at 6 a.m. on Gameday and concludes 90 minutes postgame.

Alabama Football vs. Ole Miss 2023 — The pregame flyover. The Alabama Crimson Tide football team face the Ole Miss Rebels in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)

PREGAME FLYOVER

Saturday’s pregame flyover — the 325th Weapons Squadron and 110th Bomb Squadron of Whiteman AFB, Missouri — will take place at 11 a.m. (as the national anthem closes).

READ: Stadium flyovers: How they work at Alabama football games