The Southeastern Conference is requiring all football stadium entrances to be equipped with metal detectors by the start of the 2020 season and Mississippi State has decided to get a jump start on that requirement by installing them immediately.

The school announced on Thursday that Davis Wade Stadium will have metal detectors in place for the start of the 2018 season opener against Stephen F. Austin.

School president Mark E. Keenum released the following statement with the news:

“Mississippi State University and the University of Alabama are taking the lead in implementing safety and security measures including metal detectors that will be required of all Southeastern Conference universities by 2020. Here at MSU, we have made systematic strides in recent years to maximize security while also maximizing the very best possible fan experience for our Bulldog family and our guests. I encourage our loyal fans to embrace this necessary initiative.”

MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen also offered up a statement:

“The safety and well-being of our fans and student-athletes has and will always be of the utmost importance to us. With walk-through metal detectors becoming a conference-wide initiative in football by 2020, we want to ensure a smooth transition for all fans who visit Davis Wade Stadium. We encourage our fans to become familiar with the process before they arrive on campus on Sept. 1.”