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Texas plays Ole Miss at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Saturday, Oct. 24, and kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Central, on ABC. Texas Athletics' game page lists the game as sold out. For a night game the part that bites first is not the game: UT's parking rules say vehicles have to be off the listed campus lots and streets by 11:59 p.m. tonight, Friday, and towing starts at 12:01 a.m.
This builds on this morning's Lady Bird Lake piece, where we mentioned the game with the kickoff still unconfirmed. It is confirmed now: Texas Athletics' game center and Ole Miss's own announcement both say 6:30. Everything below is from official pages read Friday, Oct. 23. We have not been to this game, and we have not walked the routes below.
AI-generated illustration, not a photo of the stadium.
What time do I actually need to be there?
| When | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, by 11:59 p.m. | Cars off the listed permit lots, garages and campus streets | UT Parking and Transportation Services |
| Saturday, 12:01 a.m. | Towing begins | UT Parking and Transportation Services |
| Saturday, 5 a.m. | Traffic control points and one-way streets start around the stadium | UT Parking and Transportation Services |
| Saturday, 3 to 7 p.m. | Waterloo Gameday pregame party, Waterloo Park | Waterloo Greenway |
| Saturday, about 4:30 p.m. | Stadium gates open, two hours before kickoff | Texas Athletics fan guide |
| Saturday, 6:30 p.m. | Kickoff, on ABC | Texas Athletics game center |
The fan guide says gates open two hours before kickoff and that you must use the gate printed on your mobile ticket. It was last updated in February and a few lines still say 2025, so treat the two-hour rule as the standing policy, not a promise about tomorrow. Texas Athletics says game times can change and would post any change on its site and app.
Tickets are mobile only. The fan guide says there are no barcodes on them and screenshots are not accepted. Load the ticket into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet tonight, not in the line.
What will the weather be at a 6:30 kickoff?
Dry and warm, then pleasant. The National Weather Service forecast we pulled Friday afternoon has Saturday mostly sunny with a high of 87, a 0% chance of rain and a light wind, and Saturday night partly cloudy with a low near 63. Open-Meteo's hourly numbers for the campus area run about 84 at 5 p.m., 83 at 6, 79 at 7, 76 at 8 and 73 at 10, with winds under 10 mph and no rain in the hours we looked at.
That makes the 4:30 to 6:30 stretch the warm one. If you are queuing in the sun, the fan guide's water rule matters: one sealed, soft plastic bottle up to one liter is allowed, and no other outside drinks, Yeti-style bottles included.
How do I get there without parking on campus?
CapMetro's football page lists eight routes serving campus on game days: 7, 10, 18, 20, 320, 801, 803 and 837. It says Routes 7 and 10 run on a detour on game days; Route 7 and Route 837 drop off in front of the stadium, and 801 and 803 drop off at the UT West Mall. Buses on the other routes run every 15 to 30 minutes. You pay by tapping a phone or a credit or debit card on board, or through the Umo app.
For park-and-ride, CapMetro gives these estimated travel times to the stadium: Triangle 29 minutes, Delco Center 34, North Lamar Transit Center 40, South Congress 40, Expo Center 49, Southpark Meadows 60 and Tech Ridge 68.
The CapMetro page says "seven routes" and then lists eight, and the link to its detour notice is labelled 2025. We could not confirm the detour map for this game, or how late buses run after the final whistle. Check the Transit app before you leave, and have a second way home.
If you are driving, UT's page lists public pay parking at the Health Center Garage and Lot 15, and the Texas Facilities Commission sells game-day parking in state garages. We did not price any of it and are not quoting a number. Mobile parking permits are scanned at the entrance, and screenshots are not accepted there either. RVs and oversize vehicles go to State Lot 26 at 701 W. 51st St. ($20 from 6 p.m. the day before to noon the day after, or $10 on game day, pay on entry, with a free shuttle).
What's the pregame option that isn't tailgating on the Drag?
Waterloo Greenway is running its Waterloo Gameday in Waterloo Park from 3 to 7 p.m. on the Meredith Heritage Tree Deck. The listing promises a full bar with happy-hour pricing, local food, live music, live game viewing and lawn games, and says everyone is invited.
AI-generated illustration, not a photo of Waterloo Park.
Two things the page does not settle. It sells a $25 pre-purchase ticket that it describes as coffee, two drink tickets and breakfast bites, which reads like it was written for a morning game; we do not know what is on offer at a 3 p.m. start or whether entry is free without it. And we have not walked from Waterloo Park to the stadium, so we are not giving a walking time. Ask Waterloo Greenway before you plan around it.
What can I bring into the stadium?
UT's fan guide sets these rules for every home game; we went through them in detail in our Texas–Florida guide. The short version, from the fan guide:
- Bags: clear plastic up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear resealable bag, or a clutch or wallet smaller than 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Diaper bags are not allowed; move what you need into a clear bag.
- Money: everything inside is cashless. Cash-to-card kiosks exist for people without a card.
- Left at home: umbrellas, flags, signs, selfie sticks, coolers and outside food (medical snacks excepted).
- No re-entry. If you walk out, you are out.
- Alcohol: sales stop at the end of the third quarter.
Pick up your parking, your ticket and your ride tonight. A 6:30 game feels relaxed until the plaza is full at 6 p.m. and nothing is loaded.
What about getting out afterward?
UT switches the one-way streets around the stadium after the game. San Jacinto Blvd between MLK and 20 1/2 Street runs southbound, Robert Dedman Dr between Dean Keeton and DeLoss Dodds Way runs northbound, 21st Street between San Jacinto and Speedway runs westbound, and Trinity Street between DeLoss Dodds Way and 25th Street runs northbound. The fan guide does not say when the game is expected to end and we are not guessing; a 6:30 kickoff puts the final whistle at night, and the lots clear slowly.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Texas vs. Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 24? Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Central at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, on ABC, according to Texas Athletics and Ole Miss.
Is Texas vs. Ole Miss sold out? Texas Athletics' game page showed "Sold Out" when we read it Friday. Ticket status can change; check the official page or app.
When do the gates open? The fan guide says two hours before kickoff, so about 4:30 p.m. Your gate is printed on your mobile ticket.
Do I have to move my car tonight? If it is in one of the listed UT lots, garages or streets, yes: by 11:59 p.m. Friday, or it is cited and towed starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Can I bring a backpack? No. Only clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear bag, or a clutch smaller than 4.5 by 6.5 inches.
For a Saturday that starts earlier, our Lady Bird Lake morning guide has a free bird walk and a phone-only wildlife count, and Things to do in Austin keeps the rest of the weekend. Sources: Texas Athletics game center, fan guide, UT football parking, CapMetro football service, Waterloo Gameday, Ole Miss kickoff announcement. Austin Texas Things publishes twice a day, morning and afternoon, on what is actually open and happening.
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