Fresh off its most complete performance of the season, Alabama is heading to Starkville for a much tougher test than the 31-point win over South Carolina in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide and Mississippi State both enter Week 5 at 4-0, and the Bulldogs have already shown they can handle Power Four competition with road wins at Minnesota and South Carolina, plus a narrow home victory over Missouri.
That’s why this trip up Highway 82 feels different. Mississippi State, led by star quarterback Kamario Taylor, brings a real problem set for Alabama.
Keelon Russell and the Tide have answered every challenge so far, but this one figures to be the most demanding game of the young season. A win would leave Alabama in a strong spot in the College Football Playoff race, but it will take its best effort yet to get it done.
No. 7 Alabama and No.
16 Mississippi State are set for a game that comes with tight betting lines. According to FanDuel, Alabama is a 5.5-point favorite, with the over/under at 60.5.
The moneyline lists Alabama at -220 and Mississippi State at +180.
The injury report is worth watching closely. Alabama has already ruled out DB Jorden Edmonds, LB Cayden Jones, DB Nick Sherman, DL Jeremiah Beaman, LB Justin Hill and LB Desmond Umeozulu.
OL Jayvin James is questionable, while OL Will Sanders is probable. Mississippi State’s availability report will be updated once the SEC releases its information Wednesday night.
Fans tuning in will hear a familiar broadcast crew on ABC: Sean McDonough on play-by-play, former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy as analyst, and Katie George reporting from the sideline.
Weather could also play a major role. Temperatures are expected to sit in the low 80s, but the radar points to a high chance of rain and possible thunderstorms in Starkville throughout the game. That kind of afternoon can turn messy fast, and the team that handles it better may walk away with the bigger win.
This will be the 109th meeting between Alabama and Mississippi State, more than Alabama has played any other program. The teams last met in 2023, and the annual series is expected to continue with both schools among each other’s three permanent SEC opponents moving forward.
Alabama has owned the matchup, going 88-17-3 all-time and riding a 16-game winning streak. Mississippi State’s last win in the series came in 2007, and only two of those 16 losses were decided by a single score.
The most recent meeting in Starkville ended in a 40-17 Alabama win under Nick Saban. This time, it will be Kalen DeBoer’s first game against the Bulldogs.
In Other News...
Alabama Fans Wont Love What Wommack Said Before This SEC Test
Alabamas defense has spent the last stretch under a brighter spotlight than it would like, with recent games bringing a fresh round of questions about how much yardage it has been giving up. Before another SEC test, Kane Wommack tried to steady the conversation by saying the unit is still growing, still improving in physicality and effort, and showing the kind of response he expects as the season moves on.
The comments were meant to project confidence, but they also came with a notable nod to what is ahead. Wommack singled out Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor as one of the toughest challengers he has seen in his time, maybe even the best, which only raises the stakes for a defense already trying to quiet outside criticism. For Alabama, the timing makes this feel like more than a routine week of preparation. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's Improved Run Game May Decide More Than Fans Expected
Heavy rain could end up changing the feel of Alabamas trip to Mississippi State more than the quarterback matchup alone. Keelon Russell and Kamario Taylor will still draw plenty of attention, but the forecast has raised the possibility that the Tide will need to lean on a run game that has taken a clear step forward from last season.
Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell and Traeshawn Brown have given Alabama more options between the tackles and on the edges, which matters even more if the weather turns the game into a grind. If the passing game has to shrink because of the conditions, the ground attack may become the part of Alabamas offense that decides how comfortably it can control the night. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Is Facing Another Eagles Backlash Alabama Fans Will Notice
Jalen Hurts has spent enough time in Philadelphia to know how quickly the temperature can rise when the Eagles stumble, and this latest wave of criticism is the kind Alabama fans will recognize as familiar territory. The former Crimson Tide quarterback has been under heavier scrutiny after an uneven 2025 season, with his play again becoming a central topic after a rough showing against the Chicago Bears.
The Bears game added another layer to the noise when Hurts was evaluated for a concussion after taking an illegal hit, and his reaction to a teammates apology for a turnover also drew attention he did not need. Eagles frustration has a way of building on old storylines, too, and Hurts strained relationship with former teammate A.J. Brown, which eventually helped lead to Browns trade, is part of why every new wrinkle around the quarterback tends to land so loudly. [Read more 🡒]