Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Aug. 29, 2025 – The 2025 Arkansas State University football season is set to officially kick off Saturday night at Centennial Bank Stadium when the Red Wolves host Southeast Missouri from Cape Girardeau, MO.
Arkansas State and Southeast Missouri are set to meet for the 14th time in the series history, but only for the second time since 2003. While SEMO leads the all-time series 7-5-1, Arkansas State has won the last four meetings dating back to 1947.
A-State lists 69 newcomers on its 2025 roster. The Red Wolves return six starters – QB Jaylen Raynor, RB Ja’Quez Cross, WR Corey Rucker, OL Noah Smith, DE Bryan Whitehead and K Clune Van Andel, making A-State one of seven teams in FBS with six or fewer returning starters.
Among the seven teams with six or fewer returning starters – Arkansas State (6), Ball State (6), Eastern Michigan (6), New Mexico (5), Northern Illinois (5), Oklahoma State (4) and Utah State (4) – only A-State and NIU played in a bowl game last season.
This is the second consecutive season with 60-plus newcomers as the Red Wolves entered the 2024 season with 63 newcomers.
The guide to gameday activities can be found here. The guide includes everything a new fan needs to know about tickets, parking, tailgating and more.
Jonesboro Media Group’s 104.9 The Fox and Hot 107.5 will host the “Great A-State Tailgate Party” from 3-5pm at JTown’s Grill at 2610 East Johnson Across from Centennial Bank Stadium. Fans can park on JTown’s Grill property for $20 cash.
Here is the official timeline for Saturday’s pre-game activities:
- 2 p.m. – International Tours ticket booth, located on west side of Centennial Bank Stadium, opens
- 2 p.m. – Parking Lots open
- 3 p.m. – Food trucks in Dustin White Realty Tailgate City at Mike Watson Park open
- 3 p.m. – Hijinx Kids Zone opens in Dustin White Realty Tailgate City at Mike Watson Park
- 3 p.m. – Ticket booth at E1 (Southeast side of stadium) opens
- 3 p.m. – A-State Team Shop opens across from the International Tours ticket booth
- 3:35 p.m. – “Sound of the Natural State” and A-State Spirit Squads perform in Dustin White Realty Tailgate City at Mike Watson Park
- 3:45 p.m. – Red Wolf Walk begins in Dustin White Realty Tailgate City at Mike Watson Park
- 4 p.m. – Gates open to Centennial Bank Stadium. The first 1,000 through Gate W2 will receive a cooling towel featuring the entire 2025 A-State Football schedule, courtesy of Big River Steel.
- 5:48 p.m. – “Sound of the Natural State” begins pregame show
- 5:58 p.m. – Howl leads the Red Wolves onto the field
- 5:59 p.m. – Coin Toss
- 6:02 p.m. – Kickoff
