The Student Activities Board (SAB) held the 29th annual Order of the Pack at Centennial Bank Stadium ahead of the first football home game of the season.

SAB’s Director of Athletic Engagement JP Rowton, a junior accounting major from Harrisburg, Arkansas, said the event has the largest number of students participating for one goal out of all the other A-State events.  

“Order of the Pack is all about coming together, celebrating tradition, and getting hyped for our first home football game this Saturday,” Rowton said.

Order of the Pack is where Greek organizations team up to show the most spirit and prove they can be loud for the Red Wolves come game day. Other Registered Student Organizations are able to participate in the event as well. 

From A-State and Greek themed cheers to performances of game day songs from the band, students are able to not only compete for the Golden Wolf award but also prepare for the game-days ahead. 

SAB President Emerson Dorton, a junior strategic communications major from Dexter, Missouri, said the atmosphere of Order of the Pack is unlike anything else.

“It’s like a student section,” Dorton said. “It’s kind of good to go in and be with your group of people, and it just gets everyone more excited because you’re not all chanting for one team. You’re just kind of chanting for a state as a whole.”

At the Order of the Pack student pep rally, students heard from prominent figures at A-State. From the featured speakers to the competition element of the event, SAB continued the traditions of years past. 

Event Reveals

One tradition that has held true throughout its years is the homecoming theme reveal.

For the week leading up to the Red Wolves’ homecoming game on Oct. 24 against Georgia State, A-State is heading into the Howl-Verse with a week of Red Wolves spirit and events.

That’s not the only thing revealed during this year’s Order of the Pack, however. 

SAB unveiled a new student section, closer to the stadium’s waterfalls and positioned for more shade.

“We have revamped everything for you. We have changed the student section,” Head football coach Butch Jones said during the Order of the Pack festivities. “We are going to fill that side, and I’m going to hold you to it.”

At the end of the night, after Brandon Baxter, A-State Athletic’s in-game host, and Rowton announced the athletic teams and teams competed in a Skills Challenge on the field, Rowton announced the winners for the 2026 Order of the Pack. 

Order of the Pack Winners

There were five categories to win from. 

• Best Dressed: Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship (MBSF)

• One Pack: Student Development and Recruitment team 

• Best Banner: Greek Team Three (Chi Omega, Sigma Chi, Sigma Gamma Rho, Alpha Gamma Rho and Kappa Alpha Psi)

• Most Spirit:  Greek Team Five (Zeta Tau Alpha, Kappa Alpha Order, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Iota Phi Theta)
  
• Golden Wolf:  Greek Team One (Alpha Gamma Delta, Phi Delta Theta, Alpha Sigma Phi, Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha and Phi Beta Sigma)

Dorton said she hopes Order of the Pack’s atmosphere translates into the football season, with a packed student section at the games. 

“I hope it just encourages students to go into the games rather than staying outside tailgating. I think it’s good to show them that we have such a great student section here,” Dorton said. “You have all of your fans, the student section. There’s just nothing like it.”

After four quarters of complimentary football, A-State beat Western Georgia University 52-7 in front of a 16,678 person home crowd. 

The next home game for A-State is a revenge game against Kennesaw State on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. with the temperature expected to be in the low 80s at kickoff, significantly cooler than the previous two games. 

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