Under new head coach Todd Shulenberger, Ole Miss Soccer entered the 2026 season with lots of optimism. However, despite a somewhat promising 7-1 nonconference record, the Rebels are 0-2 in SEC play against Mississippi State and Auburn so far.
Ole Miss Soccer last won an SEC game in 2023 against Kentucky. Since then, the Rebels have gone 22 conference matches without a victory, recording four draws during the stretch.
The streak looked like it would end with the arrival of Shulenberger. Eight players from Shulenberger’s Washington State roster followed him to Oxford, and the Rebels continued building a new identity with six more transfers and three freshman recruits. The team, completely revamped since last season, gave fans a lot to look forward to.
After four wins to open nonconference play, the Rebels fell to No. 24 Memphis at home. The team bounced back from the loss, finishing the early season 7-1 and entering SEC play with the most momentum it has had in years.
However, this momentum did not last long. The Rebels opened conference play at home against Mississippi State. They kept the game close and headed into halftime trailing by only one goal. Forward Sarah Granno tied the game early in the second half, and Ole Miss, finally, looked like a competitive team in the SEC.
After 15 minutes, though, this all came crashing down. Ole Miss’ Jenna Studer received a red card, and the Rebels were forced to play the last 20 minutes with 10 players.
The Bulldogs scored less than a minute later, then added goals in the 81st and 85th minutes, respectively. Once again, Ole Miss looked like the team fans have grown familiar with.
The Rebels had a week to regroup ahead of their road matchup with Auburn, a team ranked just five slots ahead of them in the 2026 SEC Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
However, during the match, it looked like nothing had changed for the Rebels. Auburn’s Gracie Brown notched a goal in the 30th minute, and Grace Ivey scored just six minutes later. Facing an immense deficit, the Rebels looked completely outmatched. They recorded just three shots in the full 90 minutes. The Tigers recorded 18.
Unlike their match against Mississippi State, the Rebels struggled to get anything going offensively, failing to score a single goal.
Shulenberger’s greatest challenge in his first season at the helm will be to get Ole Miss its first SEC win since 2023, though it looks like something will need to change sooner rather than later if the Rebels want to end the losing streak.
The Rebels will host Vanderbilt on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.
