As bowl season unfolds, the usual anticipation for the unveiling of the next college football season’s schedule is a tradition for Ole Miss and the Southeastern Conference. However, this year deviates from the norm.
Contrary to the customary schedule release during bowl season, the SEC announced a special event on December 13, to be aired on SEC Network, where the 2024 conference schedule for all 16 teams would be revealed. Nevertheless, Ole Miss fans might have received an early insight thanks to the Ole Miss Alumni Association’s annual calendar.
The calendar, a reliable source in the past, seemingly spilled the beans a week ahead of the official announcement. It provides details for 12 Saturdays, hinting at the potential schedule for the Rebels in the upcoming season.
The non-conference segment of the schedule has already been disclosed. Ole Miss opts for a classic approach, scheduling all non-conference games before delving into an eight-game conference gauntlet. The season kicks off on August 31 with a home game against Furman, followed by Middle Tennessee at home the next week. A trip to Wake Forest on September 14 marks the Rebels’ only non-conference away game, culminating with a clash against Georgia Southern back in Oxford the following Saturday.
While SEC opponents were previously known, the calendar now allows fans to chart their Ole Miss journeys well in advance of the official release. Notable dates include Kentucky slated for the 2024 Homecoming on September 28, a showdown against the Sooners on October 26, Georgia visiting Oxford in early November, and the traditional Thanksgiving night matchup against Mississippi State on November 28.
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A potential concern for head coach Lane Kiffin, if the calendar dates hold true, is an SEC road trip the Saturday before facing the Bulldogs on a short week. This echoes a scenario from 2022 when Ole Miss navigated a trip to Arkansas for a night game and then hosted Mississippi State just five nights later.
If the revealed schedule is accurate, Ole Miss stands to benefit from two bye weeks next season, with potential open dates on October 19 and November 16. As the official announcement approaches, this early glimpse provides fans with a sneak peek into what the 2024 football season might hold for the Rebels.
