Ole Miss football is dominating the most polarizing storylines this offseason, and looks like it is just the beginning in the Pete Golding era.
While the Rebels navigate some peculiar legal dramas and investigations, 2026 has a much bigger headache for Pete Golding in-store. It's 2026 schedule.
Ole Miss is slated to have one of the toughest schedules among all programs in 2026.
Ending their season with a one-point semifinal loss to Miami, the road to College Football Playoffs is just a touch more brutal for the Rebs.
ON3's Crain and Cone ranked Ole Miss's schedule at No. 7 in their Top 10 toughest 2026 college football slates, with Ohio State at No.1.
NEW: Hardest 2026 College Football Schedules via @CrainAndCone👀
— On3 (@On3) February 10, 2026
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Yet again, unsurprisingly, only two of the Top 10 teams were non-SEC, Ohio State at No. 1 and Michigan at No. 5.
Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Auburn are the only SEC teams ranked with a tougher schedule than Ole Miss.
2026 schedule analysis
The Rebs will be a lot on the road this season, and it won't be good. Last season's only loss came on road against Georgia. Oklahoma, Miss State, and Kentucky were some others they faced on the road.
2026 is an altogether different beast. Texas and Oklahoma will be their biggest huddle, and Vanderbilt might or might not get added to the list in the season.
Taking on LSU should be concerning as much as it looks thrilling. The Magnolia Bowl will bring Lane Kiffin back to his villian arc origin, and Oxford will be particularly unforgiving to him.
However, he does come in with a No. 1 transfer portal class and a roster that Kiffin nitpicked. The win will definitely won't come that easy for Ole Miss.
They also meet their former QB2 Austin Simmons, and star WR Cayden Lee when they host Missouri. Auburn and Florida should be somewhat easier.
Then there's Georgia, one game in which Ole Miss will go all out to get regualr season's revenge. But Kirby Smart will be equally charged up to get Sugar Bowl's revenge.
Ole Miss is going to be heaving when the clock hits zero in November; we just don't know if they'll be celebrating in the win column or left in the gutter.