Top 10 Games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium

Welcome to Oxford, Mississippi, where the magnolias bloom, the Grove buzzes on Saturdays, and Vaught–Hemingway Stadium has delivered some of the wildest, most unforgettable games in SEC history. You want drama? This place served it hot—with upsets, shootouts, and soul-stirring moments that still echo through the bleachers.

Legends were made here. Goalposts were carried off into the night, tears were shed for fallen heroes, and quarterbacks cemented their legacies under the lights. From Eli’s late-game heroics to McCluster’s video-game stat lines, this stadium’s turf has seen it all.

So buckle up, because we’re counting down the Top 10 games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium—where the script is never safe, and the magic is always real.

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10. Matt Corral’s Duel with Arkansas (2021) – A 52–51 Barnburner in Oxford

It was billed as a shootout, and boy did it deliver. In front of a rocking Vaught Hemingway crowd, Matt Corral put on a show—287 yards passing, 94 rushing, and five total touchdowns—in a game that refused to hit the brakes.

Both teams went blow for blow, touchdown for touchdown, until Arkansas punched it in as time expired. But instead of settling for OT, the Hogs rolled the dice. A two-point try. For the win. And it fell flat.

The crowd exploded. Lane Kiffin’s headset might still be airborne. And Oxford had itself an instant SEC classic.

Ole Miss edges Arkansas 52–51 in a wild SEC shootout.

9. Win Over Notre Dame (1977) – The Day the Rebels Humbled Joe Montana

It was a September scorcher in Oxford, and few outside of Mississippi gave the Rebels much of a chance. Joe Montana had swaggered into town with No. 3 Notre Dame, and the Irish looked poised to steamroll another SEC foe.

But Ole Miss had other plans.

The defense played inspired, the crowd never sat down, and the Rebels punched the Irish in the mouth early — and never let up. Every yard was earned, every third down contested, and by the final whistle, Hemingway Stadium had witnessed one of its proudest days.

No. 3 Notre Dame stunned by unranked Ole Miss, 20–13.

8. Rebels Upset Texas A&M (2013) – Bo & Moncrief Go Off Under the Lights

The stage was set: Saturday night in Oxford, lights blazing, and the Aggies riding high with Johnny Manziel leading the charge. But Bo Wallace came to play, and Donte Moncrief was unstoppable.

Ole Miss traded blows all night with No. 9 Texas A&M, answering every big play with one of their own. The Grove crowd was rocking, and for a moment, it felt like the Rebels might shock the world.

They came up just short — but the performance, the grit, and the electricity still make this one of the most memorable games ever played at Vaught Hemingway.

No. 9 Texas A&M escapes with a 41–38 win over unranked Ole Miss.

7. Johnny Vaught’s Final Home Win (1970) – The End of an Era

This wasn’t just another Saturday in Oxford. This was Johnny Vaught’s last stand at home — the legendary coach who built Ole Miss into a national powerhouse.

Against a strong Tennessee squad, Vaught’s Rebels came out firing on all cylinders. Archie Manning orchestrated a near-flawless offensive performance, while the defense shut the door when it mattered.

The crowd knew they were witnessing history. Decades of dominance, countless wins, and one final home triumph for the man who defined Ole Miss football.

Ole Miss routs No. 20 Tennessee 48–23 in Johnny Vaught’s final home game.

Want to know who Ole Miss is facing this season?
Don’t miss our full breakdown of the Ole Miss Football Schedule for 2025 — complete with big matchups, key dates, and can’t-miss SEC showdowns.

6. Dexter McCluster Dominates Tennessee (2009) – A 324-Yard Showcase

Every now and then, a player owns the field so completely it feels like a video game. That was Dexter McCluster against Tennessee.

Lined up all over the formation, McCluster shredded the Vols for 282 rushing yards and 42 receiving, weaving through defenders like they were standing still. It was speed, swagger, and stamina on full display—one of the most electric performances Vaught–Hemingway Stadium has ever seen.

By the time it ended, the Rebels had rolled, and McCluster had cemented himself as a Rebel legend.
Ole Miss defeats Tennessee 42–17 in a McCluster masterpiece.

5. First Game After Chucky Mullins’ Injury (1989) – A Stadium United in Emotion

Some games are bigger than football. In 1989, Vaught–Hemingway Stadium became more than a venue—it became a sanctuary.

Just weeks after defensive back Chucky Mullins suffered a life-altering spinal injury, Ole Miss returned home to play with heavy hearts and unshakable purpose. The Rebels ran through the tunnel to thunderous support, but it was the silence before kickoff—a moment of prayer, remembrance, and resolve—that truly defined the night.

Fans held signs, wore No. 38, and stood in unison as one family. It wasn’t about a win. It was about Chucky. And that game will forever stand as a tribute to his spirit.
Ole Miss tops Vanderbilt 24–9 in an unforgettable night of unity.

4. Fourth-and-25 vs. Arkansas (2015) – A Lateral Heard ’Round the SEC

It was supposed to be Ole Miss’ moment. A shot at the SEC title game was within reach, and all that stood in the way was a 4th-and-25 stop in overtime.

Then it happened.

Arkansas QB Brandon Allen found Hunter Henry, who—in full desperation mode—hurled a blind lateral over his shoulder. The ball bounced. Then landed in Alex Collins’ hands. He scooped it up and bulldozed his way for the first down. The Razorbacks scored, converted a two-point try, and stunned Vaught–Hemingway Stadium.

It wasn’t just a loss. It was heartbreak in real time—one of the wildest finishes college football has ever seen.
Arkansas edges Ole Miss 53–52 in double overtime.

3. Rebels Topple LSU (2003) – A Heavyweight Fight in Oxford

This one had it all—top-10 rankings, future NFL stars, and national title hopes hanging in the balance.

No. 3 LSU. No. 15 Ole Miss. Eli Manning under center. The crowd at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium came alive early and never let up. The Rebels punched first, but LSU countered with power, speed, and a relentless front seven.

It came down to the final quarter, but the Tigers escaped Oxford with a narrow win. Still, the energy, the pageantry, and the sheer magnitude of the matchup made it an instant classic—and one of the most unforgettable games ever played on Rebel turf.
LSU defeats Ole Miss 17–14 in a top-15 showdown.

2. Ole Miss Stuns Alabama (2014) – The Day Oxford Shook

This wasn’t just a win. It was a moment that cracked through the college football world like a thunderclap.

Bo Wallace outdueled Nick Saban’s No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide, throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns. The defense bent but didn’t break, and when Senquez Golson hauled in a game-sealing interception, Vaught–Hemingway Stadium erupted.

The fans rushed the field. The goalposts came down. They were paraded through the streets and planted right in the heart of the Oxford Square.
Ole Miss defeats No. 1Alabama 23–17 in a monumental upset.

1. Eli Manning’s Comeback vs. Arkansas (2001) – A Triple-OT Heroic

Eli Manning had already etched his name in Rebel lore, but this one sealed it in stone.

Down late to a tough Arkansas team, Manning led a clock-chewing, clutch drive to tie it up in regulation. Then came the overtimes—three of them, each more dramatic than the last.

It wasn’t just Eli’s arm—it was his grit. His leadership. The way he willed the team down the field and delivered strike after strike when it mattered most. Vaught–Hemingway Stadium shook with every play, and when the final whistle blew, it felt like the entire state of Mississippi exhaled at once.
Ole Miss outlasts Arkansas 58–56 in triple overtime.

Want more on the magic of Ole Miss football? Check out our list of the 7 Reasons Vaught Hemingway Stadium (Ole Miss) Is a True Southern Gem and see why Saturdays in Oxford hit different: