Winter weather affected every facet of the Oxford community, including Ole Miss Athletics. Events for six sports were either canceled or postponed due to Winter Storm Fern.
Rifle
The Ole Miss Rifle team was forced to cancel its matches against Navy and Georgia Southern. The team was also set to host the Patriot Rifle Conference Tournament on Feb. 7-8; however, the tournament was relocated to Fort Wayne, Ind.
On day one of the event, the Rebels finished third in smallbore, and Gracie Dinh took bronze.
Ole Miss scored 2,537 points, the eighth-highest score in the history of the event. Audrey Gogniat won gold in air rifle on day two, and the Rebels finished second overall.
Since the program was unable to host the tournament this year, head coach Will Shaner plans to make a play for Ole Miss to host in 2028.
“Each year, the coaches kind of get together and decide who’s going to be doing it (hosting),” Shaner said in an interview with The Daily Mississippian. “Next year, I know for sure it’s going to be (in) Nebraska, but knowing us and how excited we were to host it, we’ll probably try to put in a bid for the year after that.”
Basketball
The Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team was forced to relocate its home games against Vanderbilt and Auburn to Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala.. The Rebels’ home game against Tennessee, originally scheduled for Jan. 26, was postponed to Feb. 17.
“Disappointed that we lost a home game BUT grateful that we get to play,” head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said via X on Jan. 27. “Thanks to Shae (Ralph) and the league office for making this possible! Alabama Rebs we could use your support!”
The Rebels defeated then-No. 5 Vanderbilt in the neutral site game 83-75, then followed this win with a 71-45 thumping of Auburn.
“Birmingham we love you! You all showed so much love! Thank you! From the time we got here and even tonight! To the ones that drive up, safe travels back! We are now headed to Tuscaloosa!” McPhee-McCuin said via X on Feb. 2.
The Ole Miss Men’s Basketball team was affected minimally. Instead of hosting Vanderbilt on Jan. 31, the Rebels traveled to Nashville, and the game was played on the same day as it was originally scheduled. The Rebels lost the game 71-68. Vanderbilt will now come to Oxford on March 3 for the second matchup between the two teams, which was originally slated to be played in Nashville.
Golf
The Ole Miss Men’s Golf team saw only slight modifications. The Thomas Sharkey Individual Collegiate, originally scheduled for Jan. 29 and 30, was pushed back to Feb. 7-8. It was hosted by Georgia Southern.
Tennis
Both Ole Miss Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams suffered significant changes to their schedules. The women’s match against Illinois and the men’s matches against Chattanooga, Southern Miss, Charlotte and Eastern Kentucky were canceled. None will be rescheduled.
Women’s tennis against Southeast Missouri was also canceled, but was rescheduled.
