When No. 23 Ole Miss squares off against unranked Texas this Wednesday in Oxford, Mississippi, the game will be anything but uneventful. The Rebels (15-5, 4-3 SEC) are eager to snap a three-game SEC losing streak, while the Longhorns (14-6, 3-4 SEC) aim to continue their momentum after defeating two ranked opponents.
Adding to the excitement is the fact that this will mark Ole Miss coach Chris Beard’s first encounter with his former team since his dismissal from Texas in January 2023.
In their latest outing, Ole Miss fell 83-75 to then-No. 22 Missouri, with Malik Dia scoring 17 points, Sean Pedulla contributing 15, Jaemyn Brakefield adding 14 in his debut start, and Matthew Murrell chipping in 12 points.
Despite starting the SEC season strong with four victories, the Rebels’ recent three-game skid—two of which were road losses—has caused them to drop seven places in the Top 25 rankings.
Coach Beard remains optimistic, stating, “This is the SEC. A two-game winning streak and people are ready to celebrate, but a two-game losing streak feels like the end of the world. It’s all about maintaining perspective.”
Beard acknowledges the tough competition they’ve faced and emphasizes the importance of perseverance: “We’ve just got to keep working.”
Let’s see if the Rebels can turn their fortunes around against Texas and climb back up in the rankings.
