The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Memphis-Ole Miss

Ole Miss49-12-2Memphis
Power Program I#14 of 138–National Program II#50 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
3 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Ole Miss leads the all-time series 49-12-2. They've met 63 times since 1921. Ole Miss once took 17 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Ole Miss
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +15
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe the secondary has allowed too many big plays
Ole Miss, if that secondary continues to play the way they played, will be in the bottom teens/twenties, or out of the polls completely in a month. You cannot win SEC games if you can’t tackle, stop the deep ball, or keep the ball in front of you.
Verified verbatim
Memphis
Transfer portal
+2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +19

Stature & the series, 1921–2019

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeOle MissMemphisevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Ole Miss won, gray: Memphis won)19401960198020002020

The identity war

Memphis has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Ole Miss led 10 and Memphis led 13.

more passmore runOle MissMemphis2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262005Ole Miss 24.2 ptsOle Miss won 10-62011Memphis 11.4 pts2026Ole Miss 11.2 pts
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Ole Miss by 92 in 1935. The biggest crowd, 65,889, was in 2016.

The coaching duels

John Vaught vs Billy Murphy8-1-1
Billy Brewer vs Chuck Stobart4-1
Steve Sloan vs Richard Williamson3-0
Billy Brewer vs Charlie Bailey2-1
David Cutcliffe vs Tommy West1-2
Ed Orgeron vs Tommy West3-0

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
122-69
Ole Miss leads
1st-rounders
18-6
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Ole MissMemphis
1960s9-2
1970s15-16
1980s10-10
1990s14-13
2000s22-10
2010s27-10
2020s25-8

Best picks, either side

2004Eli Manning Quarterback · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1971Archie Manning Quarterback · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1978Keith Simpson Defensive Back · Seattle SeahawksRd 1, pick 9#9 overall
2007Patrick Willis Linebacker · San Francisco 49ersRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2012Dontari Poe Defensive Tackle · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
2016Laremy Tunsil Offensive Tackle · Miami DolphinsRd 1, pick 13#13 overall
1985Derrick Burroughs Defensive Back · Buffalo BillsRd 1, pick 14#14 overall
2025Walter Nolen Defensive Tackle · Arizona CardinalsRd 1, pick 16#16 overall

Recent meetings

They haven’t met since 2019 — 7 seasons and counting.

2019Memphis15-10
2016Ole Miss48-28
2015Memphis37-24Ole Miss — Ole Miss favored by 10.5
2014Ole Miss24-3
2009Ole Miss45-14
2008Ole Miss41-24
2007Ole Miss23-21Memphis — decided by 2
2006Ole Miss28-25
2005Ole Miss10-6
2004Memphis20-13
2003Memphis44-34
2002Ole Miss38-16
1999Ole Miss3-0Memphis — decided by 3
1998Ole Miss30-10