Mississippi State Could Have its Biggest Crowd This Decade On-Hand for Tennessee

Tennessee football’s game at Mississippi State is tracking to be one of the best-attended games in the school’s history. On Tuesday, the school announced that the contest is officially a sell-out. It’ll also be a ‘White Out’ with MSU fans encouraged to wear all white and the team also wearing white uniforms.

If every seat in the stadium is filled, it’ll theoretically be an attendance of 60,311 at the game. That’s the second-smallest capacity in the SEC, ahead of just Vanderbilt at 40,550. However, with big games and sell-outs typically bringing in above the listed capacity, the number may end up larger than that.

According to 247, the best mark this decade so far was 60,412, just barely over the listed capacity. That was for the Egg Bowl in 2023 against Ole Miss. The Rebels claimed a win over interim head coach Greg Knox and the Bulldogs in that game.

The top crowd in recent history was in 2018. Florida and Dan Mullen came to town that year, drawing 61,406 fans. The Gators won that game in Mullen’s return to Starkville.

Saturday’s Matchup Inside Davis Wade Stadium Is Officially 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐔𝐓‼️

Wear White, Be Loud & We Will See You Saturday! #HailState pic.twitter.com/inLNtMzVaX

— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) September 23, 2025

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Mississippi State fans will naturally be equipped with cowbells at the game, per its tradition. In 1974, there was a ban on artificial noisemakers in the SEC at football and basketball games. However, in 2010, the SEC decided to let Bulldog fans use cowbells, just not during play. Instead, it’s reserved for situations such as during pregame, timeouts, halftime and after the Bulldogs score.

In order to ensure the tradition stays unbanned, Mississippi State uses a slogan to remind fans when it is allowed to be used: “When the center is over the football, rest your bell and just yell.”

Tennessee holds a 30-16-1 record against MSU all-time in football. On the road, the Vols are 13-9. However, the most recent trip to Starkville was a 41-31 loss in 2012.