Memphis–Ole Miss football rivalry
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| First meeting | October 1, 1921 Ole Miss, 82–0 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | August 31, 2019 Memphis, 15–10 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 63 |
| All-time series | Ole Miss leads, 47–12–2[1] |
| Largest victory | Ole Miss, 92–0 (1935) |
| Longest win streak | Ole Miss, 17 (1921–1962) |
| Current win streak | Memphis, 1 (2019–present) |
The Memphis–Ole Miss football rivalry, also known as the Mid–South Rivalry,[2] is an American college football rivalry game between the Tigers of the University of Memphis and the Rebels of the University of Mississippi. The series began in 1921. Ole Miss leads 47–12–2.
History
[edit]As of 2019, Ole Miss is tied as Memphis's most frequent opponent, and Memphis is Ole Miss's most common non-conference opponent.[3][4] The two schools, separated by around 80 miles,[5] first met in 1921, with Ole Miss winning the first 17 games.[2] The 1963 game had a scoreless tie, and Memphis won its first game in the series in 1967.[2] From 1962 to 1995, the series was played annually except 1975 in Oxford; Memphis; and Jackson, Mississippi.[3]
On October 17, 2015, Memphis upset no. 13 Ole Miss 37–24.[6] It was the first time the Tigers defeated the Rebels since 2004 and first win over a ranked opponent since 1996.[7] Memphis was Ole Miss's homecoming opponent on October 1, 2016, and no. 16 Ole Miss won 48–28.[8] However, in early 2019, Ole Miss vacated 33 wins from the 2010 to 2016 seasons, including the 2014 and 2016 wins over Memphis, due to NCAA violations.[9]
With the 63rd meeting between Memphis and Ole Miss on August 31, 2019, a 15–10 Memphis win in Memphis, Ole Miss became tied with Southern Miss as Memphis's most frequent opponent.[4][10]
Rivalry debate
[edit]It is disputed if this series can be considered a traditional rivalry. As early as 1994, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis referred to the Memphis–Ole Miss football series as a "Mid-South rivalry."[11] In later years, "Mid-South rivalry" began to be used by the Memphis and Ole Miss athletic departments as well as media outlets like SB Nation.[2][12][13]
Prior to the 2019 football game, former Ole Miss receiver A. J. Brown tweeted that the series was "not a rivalry," and Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral answered "no" when asked by a reporter if he considered Ole Miss and Memphis to be rivals.[14] There are no future scheduled games between Memphis and Ole Miss.
Game results
[edit]| Memphis victories | Ole Miss victories | Tie games | Vacated wins |
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Other sports
[edit]In contrast to Ole Miss dominating the football series, Memphis has a 27–14 lead over Ole Miss in men's basketball as of 2020 in a series dating back to 1922.[15][16] Most recently, no. 16 Memphis defeated Ole Miss 87–86 in Memphis on November 23, 2019.[16]
Ole Miss women's basketball has a 33–13 series lead over Memphis in a series that was played from 1972 to 2009. Ole Miss has a four-game winning streak in the series, most recently winning 73–72 at Memphis on December 18, 2009.[17][18]
In women's volleyball, Memphis and Ole Miss had at least one meeting per season from 1993 to 2007 but met only twice since 2008.[19] Ole Miss has a narrow 36–33 series lead over Memphis; the most recent game was a 3–2 Memphis win in Oxford on September 11, 2018, the first Memphis win at Ole Miss since 1995.[19][13]
Ole Miss leads the baseball series over Memphis 60–39 as of 2020.[20]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Winsipedia – Memphis Tigers vs. Ole Miss Rebels football series history". Winsipedia.
- ^ a b c d Moriarty, Morgan (September 30, 2016). "Why Memphis is a bit more than just a normal revenge game for Ole Miss". SB Nation. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Ole Miss 2019 Football Game Notes: Memphis" (PDF). University of Mississippi. August 28, 2019. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
It is the Rebels' most frequent rivalry with any school not currently or formerly in the SEC.
- ^ a b "Memphis Football 2019 Game Notes, Game 1" (PDF). University of Memphis. August 28, 2019. p. 1. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
The 62 all-time meetings between the Tigers and Ole Miss come second in program history only to Southern Miss (63).
- ^ Brandt, David (September 26, 2016). "No. 16 Ole Miss: Memphis 'should have our full attention'". Associated Press. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Brandt, David (October 17, 2015). "Memphis upsets No. 13 Ole Miss 37–24 to stay perfect". Associated Press. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Schad, Tom (October 17, 2015). "Tigers knock off Rebels for 13th straight win". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "No. 16 Ole Miss Cruises To 48–28 Homecoming Win Over Memphis". OleMissSports.com. University of Mississippi. October 1, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Gabler, Nathaniel (February 12, 2019). "Ole Miss football to vacate 33 wins". The Oxford Eagle. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Stukenborg, Phil (August 31, 2019). "Tigers hang on to beat Ole Miss in season opener". GoTigersGo.com. University of Memphis. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Stukenborg, Phil (November 6, 1994). "Tigers garner breaks, big plays at finish". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis. p. D6. Retrieved October 14, 2020 – via NewsBank.
- ^ "Ole Miss Renews Mid-South Rivalry at No. 16 Memphis Saturday". OleMissSports.com. University of Mississippi. December 8, 2006. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ a b "Volleyball Preview: Ole Miss". GoTigersGo.com. University of Memphis. September 10, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Suss, Nick (August 31, 2019). "What rivalry? Ole Miss still not ready to call Memphis a rival after defeat". Clarion Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ 2019–20 Tigers Men's Basketball Media Guide (PDF). University of Memphis. 2019. p. 142. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Walker, Teresa M. (November 23, 2019). "Achiuwa scores 25, No. 16 Memphis holds off Ole Miss 87–86". Associated Press. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ 2019–20 Memphis Women's Basketball Media Guide (PDF). University of Memphis. 2019. p. 95. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Rebels Beat Memphis 73–72 In Dramatic Fashion". OleMissSports.com. University of Mississippi. December 19, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ a b "Volleyball With 3–2 Win At Ole Miss". GoTigersGo.com. University of Memphis. September 11, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ 2020 Tigers Baseball Media Guide (PDF). University of Memphis. 2020. p. 72. Retrieved October 14, 2020.