Wondering what items are essential to bring to Mississippi State football games? 133 students voted, and the results are in. 

Football season, one of Mississippi State’s busiest seasons, takes place from late August to late November, and for most Bulldog fans, the game is a full-day experience. 

Depending on the kickoff time, students gather in designated areas to tailgate the football game hours before the gates open, bringing many essentials to stay fresh all day. 

The student body was surveyed regarding what they believe are the most important things to bring to the football games. 

What bag to bring? 

As with any large stadium, Davis Wade has regulations on the bags attendees are allowed to bring in, so most fans bring clear bags to avoid any trouble.

DWS allows a clear bag that is no larger than 12”x6”x12”, or a small clutch purse that is not larger than 4.5”x6.5”. 

65 students said they fit all their necessities in their pockets, while 68 said they bring a clear bag or small purse. 

Top-three items 

The top three voted items were non-brainers for most students: a wallet, sunglasses and decorative game-day pins. 

With 89.4% of votes, a wallet was the number one item that students said to bring into DWS. Although the stadium accepts Apple Pay, many students still bring their physical wallets. 

Alongside the wallet, voters also said credit and debit cards, as well as their Mississippi State student ID. At the Grab-and-Go concession stand behind Section 14 in Davis Wade, students can use their Dawg Dollars to make purchases. 

For the first few months of football season, the sun is hot, but more than anything, it is blinding without some sort of eye cover.

In the 2025 season, three games had a 3:15 p.m. kickoff, and two had an 11 a.m. kickoff, both during prime sunlight hours. 

With the student section in the north end zone, the sun is primarily on that end zone and on the east side of the stadium during daylight kickoff games.

80.3% of students who voted selected sunglasses as one of their essentials on gamedays.

In the SEC, game-day pins are a staple of Saturday outfits. With almost every local store selling them and students running their own button businesses, fans are guaranteed to see a student with a decorative pin. 

64 students voted for a game-day pin as one of the items they bring into the stadium. 

Although most students wear them, it is always smart to have extras on hand to share the spirit. The pins are a way to dress up a game-day outfit and show off what a student is part of. Pins range from sorority letters to jokes about the opposing team. 

Game day pins can be found all around Starkville and are essential to 48.5% of students who voted. 

Hygiene products 

Hygiene products were the next most important items for students. Deodorant, makeup products and gum are all essentials, as 40.% voted for gum, 34.1% for deodorant and 34.1% for makeup products. 

Gum is always a safe option to have, no matter the occasion, as it keeps breath fresh during interactions in the student section. 

As for deodorant and makeup products, football season is usually a hot one, so students enjoy keeping backups of them to stay fresh. A travel-size deodorant is the most convenient, taking up less space in a student’s bag or pockets. 

Small makeup products are also convenient for touch-ups during game breaks. Sunscreen also fell under this category, with 10.6% of students selecting it. 

Electronic products 

Electronic products were also popular among the voters, as a camera, a phone/portable charger and a handheld fan were highly voted for. 

Because football game days are long ones, it is always smart to pack a portable charger and a cord just in case. Some fans even bring digital cameras to take photos to avoid draining their phones’ batteries in the camera app. 

Once again, football season is extremely hot — fans are a must. Many students use small electric fans to stay cool during the early-season games. Some even have a two-in-one portable charger and fan, which saves space in their bags or pockets. 

Atypical items 

Alongside the most-voted items, students had the option to select “other,” where they could fill in the blank for products they bring into the stadium. 

Keys and AirPods made their way into the must-have conversation, with three students voting for keys and two for AirPods. 

Feminine products were entered in by one student, as well as a poncho, snacks, a towel and eye care such as contacts and glasses. These items were voted on by one student each. 

Every fan has their own game-day essentials for Mississippi State football games, but these items stood out as the must-haves according to student votes.