Mississippi State football faces a golden opportunity on Saturday night when the No. 12 Arizona State Sun Devils roll into Starkville. It’s a marquee early-season showdown that could serve as a launching pad for the Bulldogs—not only this year, but for the program’s future.
Davis Wade Stadium is expected to be rocking with one of its best crowds in recent memory, and that means cowbells will be out in force. Few atmospheres in college football rival 50,000 fans clanging in unison, a mix of energy and chaos that rattles opponents and fuels the Bulldogs.
Arizona State knows what’s coming—at least in theory. Reports out of Tempe say coaches and staff broke out cowbells at Tuesday’s practice, ringing them on the sidelines to simulate the noise. But judging by their efforts, it’s clear they don’t yet grasp the full storm awaiting them in Starkville.
Those tiny practice cowbells? More like party favors than preparation. They don’t come close to matching the wall of sound that will pour out of Davis Wade’s bleachers on Saturday night. If that’s Arizona State’s idea of readiness, the Sun Devils are in for a rude—and deafening—awakening.
Mississippi State trolls Arizona State over cowbell prep
The Bulldogs couldn’t resist poking fun. After clips surfaced of Arizona State’s practice, Mississippi State’s official account on X chimed in with its own response, giving a clear demonstration of what “More Cowbell” really means in Starkville.
Maybe now Arizona State is starting to get the picture.
Sure, some will argue that Mississippi State’s home-field advantage isn’t what it’s made out to be, pointing to an uneven record in recent years. But that critique misses a crucial detail—the Bulldogs simply haven’t fielded many competitive teams lately. Even the loudest stadium can’t mask on-field struggles.
When Mississippi State does have a quality squad, though, Davis Wade becomes a fortress. In 2022, the Bulldogs went 7–1 at home, with their only loss coming to eventual national champion Georgia. And just two years ago, a 5–7 Mississippi State team knocked off a 10-win Arizona squad under the Starkville lights.
The truth is, when Davis Wade is full and the fanbase is locked in, the atmosphere is electric—intimidating for opponents and energizing for the Bulldogs. For the first time in a while, that spark is back. Whether it will be enough to fuel an upset remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Starkville will be the place to be Saturday night.
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