LSU. Georgia. Texas. Auburn. Oklahoma. Ole Miss Did NOT Come to Play in 2026.

The 2026 Ole Miss football season is defined by a significant transition in leadership and the introduction of a new nine-game SEC conference format.

The Coaching Change

The most notable shift for the program occurred in late 2025. Following a successful 11-1 regular season and a trip to the College Football Playoff Semifinals (where the Rebels lost 31-27 to Miami), Lane Kiffin departed Ole Miss to become the head coach at LSU. In response, Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding to head coach. Golding led the team through the 2025 playoff run as the interim coach and is now entering his first full season at the helm for 2026.

2026 Schedule Breakdown

September: The Kickoff and a Homecoming

• September 6: The season begins on a Sunday with a neutral-site game against Louisville at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

• September 12: The home opener takes place in Oxford against Charlotte.

• September 19: In one of the most anticipated games in program history, LSU visits Oxford. This marks Lane Kiffin’s first return to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as an opposing head coach.

• September 26: The Rebels play their first true road game against Florida in Gainesville.

October: New Frontiers and Traditional Foes

• October 3: Bye Week.

• October 10: The team returns to Nashville for a road game against Vanderbilt.

• October 17: Missouri visits Oxford for the first time since 2013.

• October 24: Ole Miss travels to Austin to face Texas in their first-ever meeting as SEC conference opponents.

• October 31: The month concludes with a home game against Auburn.

November: The Home Stretch

• November 7: Georgia returns to Oxford for a high-stakes November matchup.

• November 14: The Rebels head to Norman to face Oklahoma.

• November 21: A final non-conference home game is scheduled against Wofford.

• November 28: The regular season ends with the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State in Oxford. Notably, the game has been moved to Saturday after several years of being played on Thanksgiving or Black Friday.

Schedule Summary

1. Louisville (Sept 6 – Nashville)

2. Charlotte (Sept 12 – Home)

3. LSU (Sept 19 – Home)

4. at Florida (Sept 26 – Away)

5. at Vanderbilt (Oct 10 – Away)

6. Missouri (Oct 17 – Home)

7. at Texas (Oct 24 – Away)

8. Auburn (Oct 31 – Home)

9. Georgia (Nov 7 – Home)

10. at Oklahoma (Nov 14 – Away)

11. Wofford (Nov 21 – Home)

12. Mississippi State (Nov 28 – Home)