Ringing in a new year means change, and the SEC Football conference is about to change in a big way. With the decision to nix divisions, a new and improved 12 team college football playoff and the addition of two storied programs, the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners, this could be one of the most historic college football seasons we have ever seen, especially for the Ole Miss Rebels.
With no divisions in the SEC, the conference is as wide open as it has ever been; not to mention, the new scheduling system did Ole Miss a favor for the 2024-2025 season.
Ole Miss’ opponents next year include some former SEC East Teams like South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky, while excluding schedule regulars like Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Auburn.
The Kentucky Wildcats are coming back to Oxford this coming season on Sept. 28 to look for revenge in Vaught-Hemingway. The last matchup between the Rebels and the Wildcats was a close back-and-forth matchup that came down to the last play.
Ole Miss will also take on the South Carolina Gamecocks on Oct. 5, a meeting that will take place in Columbia, South Carolina for the first time since 2009. The Rebels currently sit at a 9-7 record against the Gamecocks, with the most recent matchup in 2020 ending in a victory for the Rebels.
The Rebels will also invite a new opponent to the Vaught, as the Sooners will travel to Oxford on Oct. 26. Oklahoma went 10-2 in its last season with the Big 12, and Head Coach Brent Venables is looking to make his mark during his debut season in the SEC.
After a disappointing loss to the talented Georgia Bulldogs, the Rebels are ready for a rematch on Nov. 9, when the Dawgs will travel to Oxford for the first time since 2016. The last time Georgia played in Vaught Hemingway, the Dawgs went home disappointed after a brutal 45-14 loss.
Another notable opponent this upcoming season for the Rebels is Florida. Ole Miss will travel to Gainesville Nov. 23 to take on the Gators in “The Swamp,” one of the harder stadiums to play in for traveling teams. Ole Miss and Florida have met 25 times, with the last being in September of 2020, when Florida topped Ole Miss in Oxford 51-35.
The Rebels will take on the South Carolina Gamecocks on Oct. 5, a meeting that will take place in Columbia, South Carolina for the first time since 2009. The Rebels currently sit at a 9-7 record against the Gamecocks, with the most recent matchup in 2020 ending in a victory for the Rebels.
As for the usual Ole Miss opponents, the Rebels will continue to play rival programs like LSU, Arkansas and Mississippi State.
The Rebels will travel to Baton Rouge and face LSU in the iconic Tiger Stadium, also known as “Death Valley,” arguably the most difficult stadium for traveling teams to play in. The last time Ole Miss played at LSU, the Rebels were disappointed with a 45-20 beatdown. The Magnolia Bowl is one of the most competitive matchups for the Rebels year after year, and Ole Miss aims to secure a win in Death Valley on Oct. 12.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are another opponent for the Rebels that have been a consistent competitor. The last time Ole Miss played in Arkansas territory ended up being a rocky performance by the Rebels, who returned home with a 42-27 loss. The Razorbacks will host Ole Miss on Nov. 2 in Fayetteville, after coming off a 27-20 loss in Oxford this past season.
One of the most well-known rivalries in the SEC and for the state of Mississippi is the Egg Bowl, the end of the season matchup between Ole Miss and Mississippi State. While the game was traditionally played on Thanksgiving Day at 6:30 p.m. CST, the game is now scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30, the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day. The Bulldogs will enter Rebel Territory and play for the infamous Egg Bowl Trophy in Vaught Hemingway Stadium.
