No. 7 Alabama at No. 16 Mississippi State: What to know before Saturday
No. 7 Alabama (4-0) visits No. 16 Mississippi State (4-0) on Saturday, Oct. 3, in one of the biggest games in program history for the Bulldogs. Both teams remain unbeaten through four weeks of the 2026 season.
Alabama vs. Mississippi State game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Venue: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi
- TV: ABC
- Records: No. 7 Alabama (4-0) at No. 16 Mississippi State (4-0)
Why does this game matter?
These two meet for the first time since 2023 in the 109th all-time meeting between SEC rivals. Alabama leads the series 88-17-3 and has won 16 consecutive contests, including a 40-17 victory the last time the teams played in Starkville. This is the Bulldogs’ biggest game in a decade, according to CBS Sports. Both teams enter unbeaten and ranked, making this the clearest measuring-stick matchup either has faced so far.
How do the two offenses compare?
Bulldogs sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor has completed 83 of 120 passes for 1,192 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions this season. Taylor entered Week 4 second nationally in passing touchdowns.
The Crimson Tide counter with Keelon Russell, who has thrown for 1,129 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions on 78-of-110 passing. Running back Daniel Hill has rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries, while receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams leads the Tide with 17 catches for 333 yards and three touchdowns.
Mississippi State’s ground game is anchored by Fluff Bothwell, who has 402 yards and three touchdowns on 73 carries, and receiver Anthony Evans III has caught 28 passes for 408 yards and three scores.
What does recent form say about each team?
The Crimson Tide have won its last four games this season, including a 49-18 win over South Carolina, 50-36 over Florida State, 45-17 over Kentucky and 48-10 over East Carolina. The Crimson Tide beat Indiana 38-3 in a bowl game before the 2026 season began.
The Bulldogs have reeled off four straight wins to open the year, including a 41-34 road win at South Carolina and a 31-24 home win over Missouri last weekend. The Bulldogs’ only loss in their last five games came in a bowl matchup with Wake Forest, 43-29.
Who are the expected starters?
Taylor is expected to start at quarterback for Mississippi State, with Bothwell projected as the lead back and Evans as the top target. For the Crimson Tide, Russell is expected to start under center, with Hill and Coleman-Williams projected to anchor the run and pass games, respectively.
Alabama’s roster includes two former Mississippi State players making their first return to Starkville: starting right tackle Jayvin James and rotational defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones.
Key storylines
Taylor’s passing efficiency will test the Crimson Tide’s secondary, while Russell must sustain drives against a Bulldogs defense that has limited opponents to 24 points or fewer in three straight games. Alabama’s offense has scored at least 45 points in three of four games this season.
The return of two former Mississippi State players—starting right tackle Jayvin James and rotational defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones—to Starkville for the first time since transferring to Alabama adds a secondary narrative. Both teams’ unbeaten records mean Alabama’s bid to extend its 16-game series win streak will test whether either squad is truly a College Football Playoff contender.
Weather and logistics
Davis Wade Stadium should be warm and slightly humid: 81 degrees with a 40% chance of precipitation at kickoff. The early kickoff (12 p.m. ET) marks the second morning start of the 2026 season for the SEC powerhouse.
Reporting from FOX Sports, CBS Sports, ESPN and On3 contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).