ESPN’s College GameDay is bringing a heavyweight name to Oxford this weekend, and Ole Miss fans are getting a guest picker with real star power.
Morgan Freeman will serve as the celebrity guest picker for Saturday’s show ahead of Ole Miss’ matchup with LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, ESPN announced Thursday. The Rebels-Tigers showdown is being billed as one of the most anticipated regular season games in program history, and Freeman’s presence only adds to the stage.
Freeman, a longtime Ole Miss supporter, talked about the appearance and the game during an interview with The Pat McAfee Show.
"Well obviously I agreed to do it because I'm tied up with this lady who is an ex-professor at Ole Miss, and we're intimate about what happens there," Freeman said. "I have my own feelings about Ole Miss, their football and basketball. "I'm looking forward to being there on Saturday, I'm looking forward to this game, I can promise you."
A Memphis native, Freeman has also long made his home on a 124-acre ranch in Charleston, MS, about an hour from Oxford. He has been a familiar face around Ole Miss basketball, where he often sits courtside.
Saturday’s College GameDay set will also feature Nick Saban, creating a pairing that should make for one of the most memorable scenes of the season. Based on the way the show has been arranged in the past, Freeman and Saban are likely to be seated next to each other.
Freeman’s connection to Ole Miss has already produced one of his more memorable recent moments. Two years ago, he went viral after former Auburn forward Johni Broome accidentally bumped into him during a play.
Freeman responded by playfully tugging on the back of Broome’s jersey, and Broome slapped his hand away before realizing who it was. The two laughed it off, and Broome later returned during the timeout to apologize again.
It was a reminder of Freeman’s standing with fans and players alike. He’s a living legend, and College GameDay is treating him like one.
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The warning comes after previous tensions between the schools spilled into conflict, including an arrest during a recent baseball series. With kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC, the focus in Oxford is supposed to be on the football, but the student section policy is a reminder that the rivalry can still create issues well before the first snap. [Read more 🡒]