Ole Miss fans are currently living through a weird, high-stakes era of college football. One minute you're celebrating a massive Sugar Bowl win over Georgia, and the next, you're trying to figure out if the upcoming game is on ABC, a random ESPN sub-channel, or buried deep in a streaming app you forgot you paid for. It’s exhausting.
If you’re trying to track the Ole Miss football TV schedule, you’ve probably noticed that the old days of "just turn on CBS at 2:30" are dead. The new SEC television deal with Disney has shifted the entire landscape. Basically, if you don't have a plan, you're going to miss kickoffs.
The Chaos of the New TV Deal
Honestly, the SEC on ABC move has been a double-edged sword. While it's cool to see the Rebels in prime time on a major broadcast network, the scheduling "windows" are a headache for anyone trying to plan a tailgate or a watch party.
ESPN and the SEC now use a tiered system: Early, Afternoon, Night, and the dreaded Flex.
Flex games are the worst for fans. They basically mean the network can wait until six days before the game to decide if you’re kicking off at 2:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. For a team like Ole Miss that has been consistently relevant in the CFP conversation lately, they get flexed constantly. The networks want the best matchups in the best slots, and Lane Kiffin’s squad is usually "best matchup" material.
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A Look Back at the 2025 Broadcasts
To understand where we're going, we have to look at how the 2025 season just wrapped up. It was a rollercoaster.
- The season opener against Georgia State was a late-night SEC Network special (6:45 p.m. CT).
- The high-profile trip to Kentucky landed on ABC in the afternoon.
- The LSU game (the Magnolia Bowl) was another ABC gem, which has become the new home for the SEC’s biggest rivalries.
- The Citadel game was the one that tripped people up—it was an ESPN+/SEC Network+ exclusive. If you didn't have your login info ready for the app, you were staring at a blank screen while the Rebels were already up by two touchdowns.
Where to Find the Rebels in 2026
The Ole Miss football TV schedule for 2026 is already starting to take shape, and the non-conference slate has some interesting travel.
- September 5 (or 6): vs. Louisville (in Nashville)
This is a "neutral site" kickoff. Expect this to be a massive ABC or ESPN production. Since it's a marquee opening weekend game, it won't be hidden on a streaming-only platform. - September 12: vs. Charlotte
This screams SEC Network or potentially a daytime slot on ESPN2. - September 19: vs. LSU
This is the big one. Oxford will be insane. Because this is a premier rivalry, circle the "Night" or "Afternoon" windows. ABC is the most likely home here. - September 26: at Florida
The Swamp. Even when Florida is struggling, this is a TV draw. Expect a 2:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. kickoff.
The rest of the 2026 schedule includes trips to Vanderbilt, Texas, and Oklahoma. Yes, the Rebels have to go to Austin and Norman in the same season. That is brutal. But from a TV perspective, it’s gold. Those games will almost certainly be national broadcasts on ABC or ESPN.
The Egg Bowl Shift
You've probably heard by now, but the Egg Bowl has officially moved to Black Friday for 2026. The game against Mississippi State will be in Oxford on November 27. It's scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. CT kickoff on ABC. It sucks for the people who have to wake up early after a turkey coma, but the national exposure is huge.
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Decoding the Streaming Mess
If you want to catch every single game on the Ole Miss football TV schedule, you can't just have cable. You need the "Plus."
ESPN+ and SEC Network+ are technically different things, but they live in the same app. Usually, one game a year—typically a non-conference game like Wofford or The Citadel—is exclusive to these streaming platforms. You can't find them on your channel flipper. You have to use the ESPN app on your Roku, Apple TV, or phone.
I’ve seen so many people at bars get angry because the bartender can’t find the game on DirecTV. That’s because it’s not on DirecTV; it’s on the internet.
Common TV Pitfalls for Rebel Fans
- The "Local" Blackout Myth: People still think games are blacked out locally if the stadium isn't full. That's an old NFL rule. It doesn't happen in college ball. If it's on the schedule, you can watch it.
- The ABC/ESPN3 Confusion: Sometimes you'll see a game listed as "ABC/ESPN3." That just means if you don't have a TV nearby, you can stream it via the ESPN app (which used to be called ESPN3).
- The TNT Factor: During the 2025 College Football Playoff first round, Ole Miss played Tulane on TNT. Yes, the channel that usually shows Inside the NBA. The new CFP expansion means you have to look at Turner Sports (TNT, TBS, TruTV) for those December games.
How to Guarantee You Don't Miss a Snap
The best way to stay on top of the Ole Miss football TV schedule is to stop looking at the printed calendars you get at the gas station. They are wrong by mid-September.
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Instead, you need to follow the "Monday Announcement." Every Monday during the season (usually around 11:00 a.m. CT), the SEC announces the official times and networks for games two weeks out. That is the only source of truth.
If you’re a "cord-cutter," you basically need a subscription to a service like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo. These carry the SEC Network and ABC. If you're trying to use an antenna, you'll get the ABC games for free, but you'll miss everything on ESPN and the SEC Network.
Watching Lane Kiffin's offense is a lot of fun, but the logistics of finding the game is a sport in itself. Make sure your apps are updated and your subscriptions are active before that first Saturday in September.
Practical Steps for Rebel Fans:
- Download the ESPN App now: Link it to your TV provider before the season starts so you aren't scrambling during the first quarter of a streaming-only game.
- Bookmark the SEC "TV Windows" page: It'll tell you if a game is Early, Afternoon, or Night months in advance, even if the exact time isn't set.
- Check the Friday updates: Occasionally, a "Flex" game will be finalized even later than the usual Monday window if the standings are tight.