Ole Miss and Texas now have their stage set for Oct. 24.
The SEC announced on Oct. 12 that the Rebels’ Week 8 trip to Austin will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and air on ABC. No.
10 Ole Miss enters at 4-1 overall and 2-1 in league play, while No. 6 Texas sits at 4-1 and 1-1 in the SEC.
It’s the kind of matchup that can reshape the top of the conference picture in a hurry. Texas took a hit on Oct. 11, dropping from No. 1 in the US LBM Poll after its loss to Oklahoma, and the game against Ole Miss could carry major College Football Playoff implications for both teams.
There’s also a familiar name at the center of it all. Arch Manning is Texas’ starting quarterback, and his family ties connect directly to Ole Miss. He is the nephew of former Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning and the grandson of former Ole Miss quarterback Archie Manning.
History leans Texas’ way overall. Ole Miss is 2-6 all time against the Longhorns, though the Rebels did win the most recent meeting, a 44-23 road victory in 2013.
Before that showdown arrives, Ole Miss will finish up a packed run through October. The Rebels beat Louisville 41-38, Charlotte 41-9, and LSU 32-24 before falling 52-28 at Florida and then rolling past Vanderbilt 52-17.
Here’s the rest of the schedule, with all times central:
Sept. 6: Ole Miss vs. Louisville (41-38 W)
Sept. 12: Ole Miss vs. Charlotte (41-9 W)
Sept. 19: Ole Miss vs. LSU (32-24 W)
Sept. 26: Ole Miss at Florida (52-28 L)
Oct. 10: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt (52-17 W)
Oct. 17: Ole Miss vs. Missouri (2:30 p.m., SEC Network)
Oct. 24: Ole Miss at Texas (6:30 p.m., ABC)
Oct. 31: Ole Miss vs. Auburn
Nov. 7: Ole Miss vs. Georgia
Nov. 14: Ole Miss at Oklahoma
Nov. 21: Ole Miss vs. Wofford (11 a.m., SEC Network+)
Nov. 27: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State (11 a.m., ABC)
In Other News...
Sarkisian's Latest Officiating Frustration Will Fire Up Texas Fans
Steve Sarkisian had plenty to say after Texas took a hit in the loss to Oklahoma, and one of his sharpest complaints centered on a pass-interference flag against cornerback Kade Phillips. Sarkisian said Phillips made a good play on the ball, a reaction that fit with the larger frustration around a Longhorns secondary that has been living with these calls all season.
Phillips has been flagged for pass interference three times this season, and senior cornerback Bo Mascoe has drawn two more, which only adds to the sense around the program that the balance of those calls has not gone Texas way. Sarkisian also pointed to the broader issue of the Longhorns not getting similar breaks in their favor, a grievance that is likely to resonate with a fan base already looking for reasons to feel the officiating has been working against them. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Suddenly Has A Draft Question Texas Fans Didn't Expect
Arch Manning has spent this season under a spotlight that seems to grow brighter by the week, and his name is already being pulled into 2027 draft conversation despite being in the middle of his Texas run. The numbers have been solid enough to keep the noise going, with a 63-percent completion rate, 1,122 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions through five games, but the bigger picture has always been about how much more football he wants to play before making the leap.
So when NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay left Manning out of his top 10 quarterbacks for the 2027 draft, it added a twist Texas fans probably did not see coming. The omission does not settle the question of whether Manning will eventually declare or choose to stay for a fifth college season, but it does underscore how early and unsettled the discussion already is around his future. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Must Fix One Offensive Problem Around Arch Manning Fast
Texas offensive issues have been hard to ignore, and the loss to Oklahoma only sharpened the focus on a bigger concern around Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisians attack. The Longhorns have flashed enough talent to suggest the ceiling is still high, but the rhythm has been uneven, and the overall approach has at times felt too easy for defenses to read.
Sarkisian has already pointed to the need to branch out beyond 10 personnel and keep opponents from anticipating what comes next. That makes the development of pieces like Cam Coleman, along with freshmen Jermaine Bishop Jr. and Derrek Cooper, especially relevant as Texas looks for more variety and more answers before the offense gets boxed into the same looks again. [Read more 🡒]