Ole Miss has new opponent for 2025 football schedule after Wake Forest fiasco

A few weeks ago, Ole Miss learned Wake Forest was pulling out of their scheduled game in 2025. After their Week 3 win over the Demon Deacons, Lane Kiffin confirmed in the post-game press conference that was the case, calling it "Kind of an unwritten rule not to do that."

Wake Forest reportedly would need to pay Ole Miss around $1 million to avoid them. It's been a few weeks since then, and there was concern they may not find another Power Conference opponent, but they have one. However, will they be a Power 5 Conference team in 2025?

Washington State will replace Wake Forest on Ole Miss's 2025 schedule

It was confirmed yesterday that Washington State would replace Wake Forest on the Ole Miss football 2025 schedule. It's about as good of a job as Athletic Director Keith Carter could have done in replacing a Power Conference team at this point.

SEC teams must have at least one Power Conference team on their non-conference schedule. Due to several Pac-12 teams bolting for the Big Ten and Big 12 in conference realignment, Washington State is not a Power Conference team. It likely means that Ole Miss applied for a waiver not to have a Power Conference team on their 2025 schedule.

The Cougars are about as close to a Power Conference team as Ole Miss could have scheduled, with the Pac-12 making moves to establish itself as a Power 5 Conference again. It has been reported that Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State will join the conference from the Mountain West for the 2026 season. According to the NCAA ruling, the Pac-12 needs to add two more teams by 2026 to be seen as a Power 5 Conference.

Washington State joins The Citadel, Georgia State, and Tulane as the non-conference teams Ole Miss will play in 2025. It will be the Rebels' first time facing the Cougars, and it will be a tough game. Head coach Jake Dickert is creating something special in Pullman.