Football State Championships moving back to Starkville
The MHSAA state football championships are going back to Starkville, the MHSAA announced last week.
This comes after playing last year’s state championships in Hattiesburg, the state title games will move back to Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium for the first time since 2016.
“First, we express our appreciation to Mississippi State University and Starkville for continued support and for graciously opening their doors to welcome us,” MHSAA Executive Director Rickey Neaves said in a press release. “We have zero doubt that the experience for our schools, student-athletes, coaches, and fans will be second-to-none.”
In the decade since the state championships were last played in Starkville, the games have been played at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg six times (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024) Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford twice (2017, 2023), and Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson once (2020).
“Mississippi State University is excited for the return of the MHSAA Football State Championships to Davis Wade Stadium this Fall and is enthusiastic to host the outstanding student-athletes and their families and friends in the best small town in the South here in Starkville,” Mississippi State Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter said in a press release. “Our stadium is in peak condition with new amenities and excellent concessions. This is a great opportunity for MSU to showcase our campus to Mississippi high school students and their families.”
The last time that Madison County sent a team to the MHSAA state championships for football was in 2023 when Velma Jackson fell in the MHSAA 1A state title game to Biggersville in Oxford.
The championships will take place on December 4th-6th and will officially be named the “Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Gridiron Classic.”
There will be a couple of changes in classification for Madison County teams, with realignment already announced for the upcoming season. Madison Central and Germantown will be in 7A, Canton and Ridgeland will be in 6A, St. Andrew’s will be in 3A, and Velma Jackson will be in 2A.
The 6A state championship will be played on December 5th at 7:30 PM, the 3A state title will be played on December 6th at 12 PM, the 2A state championship will be played on December 6th at 3:30 PM, and the 7A state title game will be on December 6th at 7 PM.