The future football series between the Ole Miss Rebels and USC Trojans has been canceled, according to an announcement made on Tuesday. Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter informed reporters about the decision regarding the series with USC. Carter had hinted at the likelihood of cancellation during a recent fan event, citing the SEC’s potential shift to a nine-game conference schedule starting in 2026.
Ole Miss and USC had initially agreed on a home-and-home football series, with the first game scheduled for August 30, 2025, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, followed by a match at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford on September 19, 2026.
The move towards a nine-game conference schedule by the SEC has been under discussion for some time, with indications pointing towards implementation from the 2026 season onwards. This shift is part of broader changes anticipated in college football, including adjustments due to the new 12-team College Football Playoff format. These changes are likely to impact scheduling decisions, potentially leading to fewer high-profile non-conference matchups in the future.
