The news broke earlier that Clemson and Notre Dame football had agreed to a 12-year series in 2027 until 2038. We will all be much older when that series comes to an end, but it got me thinking: which teams would Ole Miss fans love to see a 12-game series against??
Teams like Tennessee, Arkansas, and Auburn would be great picks in the SEC, but over 12 years, they can play those teams multiple times. So what about teams outside the Southeastern Conference? Here are some that I think would make for so many drama-ridden games throughout 12 seasons.
Memphis Tigers
The team that stands out straight off the bat is Memphis. Ole Miss hasn't faced the Tigers since 2019, but the game was an annual feature on the schedule until the 2010s, where they have played just four times in the last 15 seasons. Since the first game in 1921, they have met 61 times, with the Rebels leading the series convincingly, 47-12-2.
Many may wonder why play a team you will be expected to beat 12 times out of 12. Well, Ole Miss needs a bit of revenge, losing on their last two visits to Memphis. It's been 2-2 since 2010, and the Tigers have been a much better team over recent years, so it could be a good series with over 12 games. Also, it's a semi-strong opponent to get a win over when going for a playoff place.
USC Trojans
This is more of a Lane Kiffin rivalry, but it would be a good match between two solid power conference teams. We all know the story regarding Kiffin and the Trojans being fired on the tarmac of a Los Angeles airport, although he did say it was just off it in a recent interview. He believed the decision was hard and has not faced his former side since.
The two were meant ot be play a home-and-home series in 2025 and 2026, but that was cancelled. It would have been the first two games between the two programs, but the wait will continue. A 12-game series would mean somebody could have the bragging rights if it does not finish 6-6, and Kiffin would love to get on social media to the USC fans after a win.
Florida State
This has a couple of recent layers to it, and maybe I'm just in the minority, but Florida State would be an excellent 12-game series. Firstly, the 2023 drama resulted in a 13-0 Florida State being left out of the final four-team playoff picture. It caused a stir, resulting in SEC bias claims. FSU super fan Danny Kannell chimed in, and I think most SEC team fans would love to dominate the Seminoles and send some fun messages to the former player, Kiffin included.
Aside from that, the two teams offer quality in their respective conferences and are constantly pushing for a playoff spot, and each game could be a big one toward that. It would also pit two of the biggest offensive minds in college against each other, Kiffin and Mike Norvell.