Ole Miss Takes Flight in Style Ahead of Sugar Bowl Clash with Georgia
When Ole Miss touched down in New Orleans ahead of their Sugar Bowl showdown, they didn’t just arrive ready-they arrived in style. The Rebels made the trip aboard the New England Patriots’ team plane, a rare perk that added a touch of NFL luxury to their College Football Playoff journey.
It’s not every day you see a college football team flying on a pro franchise’s aircraft, but this wasn’t just any charter. The plane, typically reserved for the Patriots, was available since New England wasn’t traveling for a game. With the opportunity on the table, Ole Miss quarterbacks coach Joe Judge-who spent a decade with the Patriots-helped make the connection.
“They just make that plane available to rent out for different charters, different teams throughout the year,” Judge said during Sugar Bowl media day. “It being a weekday, the Pats ain't flying anywhere for a game right now, so it was available. It was an opportunity that we took.”
Judge’s familiarity with the Patriots’ setup gave the Rebels an inside edge. And the benefits went beyond just convenience. The aircraft is outfitted entirely with first-class seating-something that doesn’t go unnoticed when you're transporting an SEC roster full of linemen, linebackers, and long-legged quarterbacks.
“It’s a beautiful plane,” Judge said. “It’s a great deal.
One of the perks of it, it’s got first-class seating in the entire plane. So for all the big guys, everyone is comfortable.
No one is scrunched next to each other.”
For a team preparing to face Georgia in a high-stakes College Football Playoff quarterfinal, every edge matters-even if it’s just a little more legroom and a smoother ride. Ole Miss (12-1) and Georgia (12-1) are set to square off on Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl, and while the game will be won on the field, there’s no denying the Rebels started their postseason journey on the right foot.
And with Judge helping to bridge the college-pro connection, it’s another example of how Ole Miss is leaning into every resource at its disposal as it chases a national title.