The Ultimate 2022 Egg Bowl Guide: Schedule, Tickets, Stadium Tips, Local Attractions, and Insider Traditions

The 2022 edition of the Egg Bowl is slated for Saturday, November 26, at 3:30 PM Central Time. The game will be broadcast nationally on ABC and streamed live via the ESPN app, so fans who can’t make the trek to Starkville still have a high‑definition window to catch every play. The kickoff time was chosen to accommodate both television audiences and the traditional pre‑game tailgate schedule that starts around noon on the campus quad.

All tickets for the 2022 Egg Bowl are sold through the official Mississippi State athletics portal (msstateathletics.com). The site offers a tiered pricing structure: general admission lawn seats start around $30, while lower‑level chairback seats range from $80 to $150. Premium club seats and suite packages exceed $300 but include exclusive catering and lounge access. If you miss the initial release, reputable resale platforms like StubHub and SeatGeek list verified tickets, though prices may surge as game day approaches. Remember to register an account ahead of time; the checkout process locks in your seat selection within minutes of purchase.

Davis Wade Stadium enforces a clear‑bag policy: only transparent, resealable bags no larger than 12″ × 6″ × 6″ are permitted. Small personal items such as phones, wallets, and medication are allowed, but you’ll need to place them in a clear bag for the security scan. Outside alcohol, weapons, professional camera equipment, and large umbrellas are strictly prohibited. If you’re bringing a stroller or a wheelchair, contact the stadium’s accessibility office in advance to arrange a convenient entry point. The goal is to keep entry lines moving quickly while ensuring fan safety.

Davis Wade Stadium offers several parking options. The most convenient are the North and South lots, located within a five‑minute walk of the stadium entrance; these spots sell out quickly, so buying a parking pass online when you purchase your ticket is wise. For those willing to walk a bit farther, the East and West lots provide cheaper rates and are serviced by a free shuttle that runs every 10 minutes from 11 AM until kickoff. If you prefer to avoid campus traffic altogether, the downtown Starkville municipal lot offers a flat daily rate and a short, well‑signposted route to the stadium. Remember to display your parking permit on the dashboard to avoid fines.

Arriving early gives you a chance to soak up Starkville’s charm. The downtown square boasts the historic Cotton Museum, where you can trace the region’s agricultural roots before the rivalry even began. Foodies should head to the iconic Bulldog Café for a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, then swing by the nearby Starkville Farmers Market for fresh produce and local crafts. Nature lovers will appreciate the nearby Noxubee River Trail, a 7‑mile loop perfect for a post‑game stroll. If you’re staying late, the Loft Theatre offers live music on Saturday nights, giving you a taste of the town’s vibrant arts scene.

The official Egg Bowl mobile app pushes notifications for weather alerts, gate opening times, and last‑minute seat changes. You can also follow the Mississippi State Athletics Twitter account (@MSUFootball) for instant updates and behind‑the‑scenes content. For fans who prefer email, signing up for the game day newsletter on the athletics website ensures you receive a daily briefing that includes parking maps, tailgate schedules, and any COVID‑related protocols still in effect for 2022. All these channels sync with each other, so you won’t miss a beat.

If travel isn’t feasible, you can still enjoy the Egg Bowl from your living room. ABC’s national broadcast runs on channel 7 in most markets, and the network’s streaming platform, ABC.com, streams the game for free with a cable login. ESPN’s app offers a live stream for subscribers, while the SiriusXM NFL Radio channel provides play‑by‑play commentary for those who prefer audio. For international fans, the game is available on the ESPN International feed, which can be accessed via a VPN if you’re outside the United States.

The centerpiece of the rivalry is the Golden Egg Trophy, a 4‑foot bronze egg perched on a wooden base that travels to the winner’s campus for a year. The winning team’s mascot gets to keep the trophy in their locker room, and the losing side must return it before the next season. Tailgating is practically a sport in itself; fans gather at the “Bowl of Fire” parking area, where grills blaze from noon onward, and a chorus of “Hail State” and “Rebel Yell” fills the air. Another beloved ritual is the pre‑game “Egg Walk,” where the two marching bands meet at the 50‑yard line for a synchronized performance that signals the start of the showdown.

The Egg Bowl welcomes all fans, but there are a few restrictions. Ticket holders must be 18 or older to purchase; minors can attend if accompanied by an adult. The stadium enforces a strict no‑outside‑alcohol rule, and anyone with a prior felony conviction for violent offenses may be denied entry, per state law. Additionally, the university reserves the right to limit attendance for safety reasons, such as severe weather or public health concerns. In 2022, the stadium’s capacity is set at 60,000, and the university expects a near‑sell‑out, so plan ahead.

First awarded in 1927, the Golden Egg Trophy was created by a local jeweler who wanted a tangible prize to symbolize the fierce competition between the two schools. The egg shape references the “Egg” nickname given to the rivalry by early 20th‑century journalists. Over the decades, the trophy has become a cultural artifact; each side paints the egg in their school colors during the year they hold it, and the winning team’s senior class often adds a plaque with the year’s score. For alumni, seeing the trophy displayed in the campus museum is a source of pride, and for current players, it’s a tangible reminder of the legacy they’re defending.

The day before the Egg Bowl, the campus hosts a pep rally in the football stadium’s south concourse, featuring the marching bands, cheer squads, and a surprise appearance by a former NFL star who played for one of the teams. On game day, the “Fan Fest” opens at 10 AM in the adjacent civic center, offering interactive games, a photo booth with replica trophies, and local vendors selling everything from fried catfish to homemade pecan pie. After the final whistle, the victorious team’s marching band leads a victory parade through downtown Starkville, while the losing side’s fans gather at the “Rebel Lounge” for a post‑game analysis show streamed on the university’s YouTube channel.

Over the years, the Egg Bowl has featured future NFL stars and legendary coaches. Mississippi State’s own Dak Prescott, who led the Bulldogs to a dramatic 2014 victory, still returns each year to mentor current quarterbacks. Ole Ole’s Hall of Famer Archie “Gator” Manning, a Heisman‑contending quarterback from the 1970s, is a frequent guest speaker at alumni events. Coaches like Jackie Sherrill and Ed Orgeron have both coached in the rivalry, adding strategic depth and colorful anecdotes that become part of the game’s lore. Their stories—like Sherrill’s infamous “We’ll eat your eggs for breakfast” press conference—are still quoted by fans during tailgate debates.