MISSISSIPPIAN THE
Ole Miss Football’s playoff potential
LUKE DUNAVANT
WILSON ENGERISER Sports Staff Writers
The Ole Miss Rebels’ playoff hopes are alive after their historic 28-10 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Nov. 9.
In the latest College Foot-
ball Playoff Poll released on Tuesday, Nov. 12, the selection committee placed the Rebels at No. 11. The final ranking of the 12-team playoff will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The four highest ranked conference champions will automatically make the playoffs. Those teams will be
seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye to advance to the second round.
The fifth-highest ranked conference champion will also receive an automatic bid but will compete in the first round alongside seeds six through 12.
REBEL MARKET REVAMP
After receiving input from students, Rebel Market expands dining options.
SEE PAGE 3
UM FASHION PANEL
New organization gives students a way to bond over their shared love of style.
SEE PAGE 4
VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW
Ole Miss Women’s Volleyball will play Arkansas and Mississippi State this weekend.
SEE PAGE 7
Collaborative Arts Network
Fall Festival hosts live music and art sale
The inaugural Collaborative Arts Network Fall Festival will showcase the art and music of students and locals on Friday, Nov. 15 at the University of Mississippi.
“I’m hoping that (attendees) get to experience part of what the local art and music scene has to offer and maybe find some fun
art to purchase,” Collaborative Arts Network (CAN)
President Ross Cohen said. Cohen is a senior accounting and public policy leadership double major from Oxford. Cohen also served as the head event coordinator for the new student organization’s festival.
The art sale will take place on the Union Plaza from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and will feature the Rebelclefs acapella group.
The official concert of the CAN Fall Festival, which is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the Grove Stage, is free to attend. Attendees are advised to bring towels or blankets to sit on. Allison Blansett, a senior art major from Houston, Miss., said this event will serve as an important opportunity to share her work.
The Associated Student Body introduced new deputy attorney generals, legislation regarding campaign budgets and a call for all student worker jobs to be publicly posted on the University of Mississippi’s website during a formal meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Resolution 24-9 calls for the
Department of Human Resources to have all university departments post student worker jobs with hourly pay rates to the University of Mississippi jobs website. The resolution passed with unanimous approval.
Jaxson Dart JOHN MATTHEWS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
Ulysses Bentley IV scores a touchdown against Georgia in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Nov. 9.
JOHN MATTHEWS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
JORDAN ISBELL News Staff Writer
Junior public policy leadership majors Edward Hunter and Elizabeth Wildman authored the resolution and spoke about students having difficulties with job searches due to the limited offerings shown on the website.
“Out of the 196 individual departments that have student employees, only 46 use this site, and currently there are only 14 entries in the website,” Hunter said. “By gathering all available positions in one easily accessible platform, the university can help students quickly find opportunities to meet their needs and institutes.”
The ASB also discussed Bill 24-7, which proposed a budget increase in campaign expenditures from $100 to $125 for
senate, homecoming maid and senior class officer elections. The bill passed unanimously.
Haley Warren, a senior political science and history major, co-authored the bill with Andrew Nichols, a junior public policy leadership and economics double major.
“I think this is an appropriate amount because of an increase in students on campus and a fairly long election period,” Warren said. “But I mainly think that this is an important increase because of recent additions to the code that allow us to hand out things like food for under $1.”
Nichols spoke about previous complaints of the $100 budget not being sufficient over a week-long campaign.
“With food having a limit of $1 per item, that only gives you 100 items on campus for about 18,000 undergrads, so
we just want to increase it a little bit to help out people,” Nichols said. “We want to give people a little more wiggle room, so they can get the full experience of campaigning.”
ASB also announced the upcoming Adopt-a-Basket, a program that accepts food and cash donations to create Thanksgiving meals for the LOU community. Beginning on Nov. 1 and lasting until Nov. 19, donations can be dropped off at the ASB office in Union Suite J301 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m or submitted through a form on the ASB website.
Braxton Dagg, a junior integrated marketing communications major and ASB secretary, is in charge of this year’s program.
“This year, hopefully we will be able to serve a lot more people, and we have got a lot of monetary donations,” Dagg said.
He also encouraged the com-
munity to help pack baskets on Nov. 19 in the Union Ballroom.
“If you would like to come, you’re more than welcome to,” Dagg said. “This is one way we can give back as a student body, so make sure you donate and make sure someone has a great Thanksgiving Day.”
Alex Kipping, a senior public policy leadership major and attorney general of ASB, was responsible for appointing two new deputy attorney generals at Tuesday’s meeting: Lauren Austin, a senior political science major, and Owen Plaisance, a junior public policy leadership major.
Austin said that, in her role, she will be able to help shape the documents that keep the ASB organized.
“Being involved in ASB since my freshman year has shown me just how important it is to have clear policies that reflect
the needs of our campus community,” Austin said. “Moving forward, I want to make sure our Code and Constitution continue to support everyone’s efforts and foster an environment where ASB can thrive as a unified organization that truly helps our student body.”
ASB Vice President Jack Jones, a junior economics major, agreed with Kipping’s decision due to both appointees’ prior experience in ASB.
“Both have been involved with the code for quite some time and are very well educated on what the code is and what it needs to be,” Jones said. “Those are all the things that you need to know to be a deputy attorney general.”
Patient, prescriber advocate improved medical marijuana education
Levi Sheppard, a father of six from Brandon, Miss., contracted encephalitis years ago, which prompted a seizure and put him in a coma for more than a month. He was left paralyzed and had to learn how to walk, talk and care for himself all over again.
Sheppard’s recovery regime included many seizure medications, which led him to lose his appetite and eventually become malnourished. He credits cannabis with helping him regain his appetite and better manage his hectic life.
“With having six kids, they drive me crazy. I have four teenagers and two little ones, so it kind of helps with my anxiety a little bit. I can just go with the flow,” Sheppard said.
Sheppard’s access to medical marijuana in Mississippi came after years of effort from advocates. The process began with Initiative 65, a 2020 ballot initiative that aimed to legalize cannabis for those with qualifying medical conditions.
Despite receiving strong voter support, the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned the initiative in May 2021, citing issues with the state’s initiative process, which delayed the program’s progress for months.
Eventually, Mississippi lawmakers worked to create a path forward, and in early 2022, Gov. Tate Reeves signed the Mississippi Medical Can-
nabis Act into law. The act established a regulated medical marijuana program for patients who qualified, with oversight managed by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
The program officially began accepting applications in late 2022, and the first patient received medical cannabis in Jan. 2023. As of October 2024, 45,689 patients are eligible for the drug, as reported by the Clarion-Ledger.
Sheppard said the new law has helped him access safe and effective treatment, but the program falls short when it comes to educating patients.
“I wish the doctors were more knowledgeable about it as to what strand and what to get that would help you,” Sheppard said. “But I guess they leave that up to the (medical marijuana) dispensary.”
Dr. Kirk Kinard, a pain management specialist who operates eight “Pause Pain and Wellness” practices across the state, said there is much room for improvement nearly two years into the program.
“(The program) has such a better chance to succeed when your practitioner is educated, but the educational points are lacking,” Kinard said.
Currently there are just over 200 practitioners who are eligible to provide medical cannabis certifications in the state. Mississippi requires practitioners to complete eight hours of continuing medical education (CME)
for certification, along with an extensive application process.
Practitioners must also be registered with the Mississippi Department of Health and their respective licensing boards. Following initial certification, a practitioner must earn five additional hours of CME annually.
Angie Calhoun, CEO of the MCPA, said her organization is working to bridge the information gap for practitioners and users.
“There is a great dearth of education,” Calhoun said. “There is not enough that has been put out to help the patients.”
MCPA has found that patients often rely on medical marijuana dispensary workers for guidance, yet most of these workers lack knowledge about appropriate strains or proper dosage. Calhoun hopes that the university’s recently established National Center for Cannabis Research and Education will play a key role in getting information to patients and providers.
“Research studies will help to explore the hows and whys and dosaging … and how medical cannabis is actually working for patients because, you know, we really don’t have a true dosing mechanism, and there are just so many unknowns,” Calhoun said.
In the meantime, both Kinard and MCPA are working to help patients navigate
the system. At Kinard’s practices, his staff has required readings on medical marijuana and even hosts a book club. They also have monthly staff meetings where they review patient cases to improve guidance on proper dosages based on specific disorders and illnesses. MCAP also has strategies for informing the state’s users of medical marijuana.
“(We) have built a robust website that even has a chatbot that can help the patients with any questions, but it is built to decipher and break down more
easily any information that the patients need to know about the law and the rules and regulations set forth by the Department of Health,” Calhoun said.
For now, Kinard said, both patients and practitioners have to educate themselves.
“Do your own homework. Do your research. Don’t use 50 years of prejudice and bias,” Kinard said. “Get out of your shell. Break out of the box. And make yourself informed.”
MAGGIE SCOTT News Contributor
GRAPHIC: MAGGIE SCOTT
Campus executive chef revamps Rebel Market
From made-from-scratch pasta to hydroponic greens, dining options are expanding one plate at a time.
HANNAH IVEY News Staff Writer
Since joining the University of Mississippi dining staff in September 2021, Campus Executive Chef Michael Brainard has made many changes to Rebel Market.
Rebel Market is the university’s main dining hall and the first certified green restaurant in Mississippi. The Green Restaurant Association judges restaurants on specific environmental standards.
Rebel Market has partnered with local vendors such as Oxford Community Market and Ole Miss Green to bring fresh produce to campus. Brainard said that this was one of the central changes made to Rebel Market’s food service.
“Since joining the campus community, I’ve focused on elevating our dining experience by making it more sustainable, diverse and locally connected,” Brainard said. “One of the key initiatives has been establishing partnerships with local vendors. These partnerships not only support local farmers but also ensure that our students enjoy the freshest and most nutritious ingredients.”
Rebel Market features stations serving a variety of food
options, some of which Brainard implemented. Some of the new additions include a madefrom-scratch pasta station and an international station.
“We now bake fresh bread in-house and have upgraded our scratch-made pizza doughs and implemented pizza building robots and a made-to-order pancake machine,” Brainard said. “We’ve started growing our own leafy greens, herbs and microgreens through a hydroponic grow shelf, and those are served in the dishes we make. We’ve also launched Red Cup Barbecue, a new station that brings authentic barbecue with a local twist.”
Rebel Market reported serving 112,527 meals so far with just four weeks left in the 2024 fall semester. Last fall semester, they served a total of 133,471 meals. This data does not include people who paid with card or Flex.
Brainard said that students have appreciated the new changes, especially the emphasis on fresh and local sourcing.
“Students appreciate knowing where their food comes from and enjoy seeing a direct connection to the community,” Brainard said. “The new stations have also been big hits. I’ve had stu-
dents share that they love the variety of flavors and options that these stations provide.”
Jorjee Olson, a junior theater major, said she likes Rebel Market for its price and diverse options.
“I think it is very good for the price,” Olson said. “I think they have more diversity of food than when I was a freshman.”
Diners at the Rebel Market who have a meal plan can pay one meal swipe per meal. Those without meal plans can also dine for $11 at breakfast and $14 at lunch or dinner.
Freshman Lance Sumners said he also enjoys the more diverse food offerings.
“I feel like Rebel Market is one of the best places here at Ole Miss to dine at,” Sumners said. “There are some improvements that they can make, but it’s a pretty good dining spot where they have various options that you can choose from.”
Colin Kirchgessner, a freshman accountancy major, said he likes the convenience of Rebel Market.
“I like (Rebel Market) a lot,” Kirchgessner said. “I come here mainly for the coffee, but the food’s great. I go to the burger place here a lot. I’m in a fraternity, so it’s really convenient
to come here from the house.”
While many changes have already been made, Brainard said that dining service is continuously developing based on feedback from students.
“Our marketing team regularly holds focus groups with EDHE classes and student organizations like ASB, which gives us direct insight into what students want from their dining experience,” Brainard said. “Additionally, our
campus-wide dining styles survey provides feedback on everything from food variety to sustainability practices. The changes are all about responding to what students have told us they care about most — quality, convenience, variety and sustainability — and we’re excited to keep evolving based on that feedback.”
Weather experts predict a warm winter
AIDAN PONIATOWSKI News Contributor
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released their December 2024 to February 2025 weather outlook, and the forecast shows a much warmer, drier winter for North Mississippi.
The La Niña pattern is projected to bring cold, wet conditions to the Northwest and Midwest, with above-average precipitation levels and below-average temperature levels. In contrast, the Southern U.S. is expected to see warmer, drier conditions than usual, according to the NOAA.
The student body at UM had varying reactions to the prediction of warmer temperatures, with many recount-
ing the events of last winter.
Tyler Bensh, a sophomore civil engineering major from Redding, Conn., came down from his home state for the warm weather.
“It’s toasty out here. I definitely should not have worn sweatpants today,” Bensh said. “I can’t really complain about it because it’s cold right now up there.”
Killian Hollister, a sophomore criminal justice major from Harrisburg, Penn., however, longs for the colder weather.
“Halloween had us all dying in sweat. I was in a onesie, so it was not fun. Bad choice,” Hollister said.
Tony Bradley, a freshman English education and linguistics double major from Hernando, Miss., was also
glad to learn there would be higher temperatures.
“I’m glad that they say it’s going to be warmer,” Bradley said.
However, Bradley is wary of the accuracy of these NOAA reports. Last year, the NOAA predicted a winter with average temperatures and a slightly elevated chance of precipitation.
Oxford experienced a white winter last year with a mid-January storm, which led to heavy snow, icy roads and damaged infrastructure. This storm also ultimately delayed the beginning of the University of Mississippi’s 2024 spring semester by nearly a week.
“I was in high school at MSMS (Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science), and they said there was going to be ice and stormy weather, so they
called off school for a threeday weekend,” Bradley said.
“Then, they changed it from three days to five days. Then, it turned into the whole week.”
Landon Atkinson is an Oxford native and freshman accounting major.
“It was definitely mayhem,” Atkinson said. “It was just nothing we’ve ever seen before. The whole city was shut down. I had the flu, and I remember on the third or fourth day (of the storm), my dad and I had to drive through town, going about 20 miles per hour on the highway, just because I had to get to urgent care.”
Atkinson also reflected on the safety and economic issues that came along with it.
“Snow is fun, and getting out of school is fun,” Atkin-
son said. “But you also got to look at the small businesses who didn’t have customers for two weeks or maybe they lost their power. It’s super expensive and people can get hurt.” Zair Barlow, a freshman international studies and Chinese double major who was in his hometown of Memphis when it snowed last year, said he experienced the negative effects of the storm as well.
“Our water pipes broke, and we had no power,” Barlow said. “So we went to my grandmother’s house, and then she lost power, so then we went to my great-aunt’s house, and then she lost power and water. So it just really sucked.”
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S. Gale denley student media center
LARZ ROBERTS Director of Student Media
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DYLAN SHEU Advertising Sales Manager dmads@olemiss.edu
KENDALL SCOTT Sales Account Executive
A Rebel Market worker serves food on Sept. 23.
LEXI TITUS / THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN
CLAIRE REYNOLDS A&C Editor
Every year in August, collegiate women take to social media to show off their most stylish looks as they go through sorority recruitment at Ole Miss. During football season, the Grove transforms into a fashion runway, and the boutiques on the Square are never without business on any given weekend.
Amelia Sweeney and Gracie Brooke, both sophomore integrated marketing communications majors, sought to provide more opportunities to students interested in careers in the fashion industry through their new club, the UM Fashion Panel.
“We wanted to showcase people’s styles at Ole Miss and show that Ole Miss can be a fashion school even though we don’t have a fashion major,” Sweeney said.
Brooke, the club’s vice president, shared how the organization started.
“Amelia and I started it with Professor Mark Dolan (associate professor of integrated marketing communications). He wanted to do a fashion show, but he didn’t know how to execute it, and he didn’t know if people really wanted to,” Brooke said. “So after class, Amelia went up and was like, ‘We really want to do this.’”
Dolan explained why he felt there was a need for a fashion outlet for students.
“The panel came about
Strutting student style: UM Fashion Panel comes to campus
through conversations about the need to reflect fashion as part of UM culture. (Sweeney and Brooke) both have tremendous energy and enthusiasm for wanting to start the panel, which has taken off like a rocket,” Dolan said. “I think there’s a pent up energy, not simply for clothes, but for the phenomenon of fashion, as art, as a value, as self and community expression.”
The show, slated for the spring, is not limited to a certain style and welcomes involvement, Brooke said.
“We started UM Fashion Panel with the goal to showcase the style of all UM students and the Oxford community and with the goal to eventually put on a fashion show in the spring led by students and for students,” Brooke said.
In the meantime, the newly registered student organization has several ways for students to show off their outfits. Any student can submit photos of themselves in their favorite outfits to PhotoCircle, an app that allows users to share photos, which is linked in the organization’s Instagram account for the chance to be posted. Over 130 people have joined the Fashion Panel PhotoCircle and there are already over 1,220 student photo and video submissions.
Even though the club just became a registered student organization on Nov. 8, it already boasts approximately 90 members with an additional 250 in
its interest GroupMe. The organization is open to any student, and the only requirement is a shared interest in fashion.
Kate Drawbaugh, a senior finance major from Lovettsville, Va., who is the UM Fashion Panel treasurer and head of finance, explained why she got involved.
“Just the concept of it is that we’re all coming together because we love fashion and want to showcase something here at the school, but we’re all definitely doing it for different reasons,” Drawbaugh said. “The one main thing is love for fashion, which is pretty cool.”
Sweeney offered her opinion on why so many students want to be involved with the UM Fashion Panel.
“I feel like there’s not really that many outlets for people who are really into fashion, because I know so many of my friends are,” Sweeney said. “We have the emphasis in integrated marketing communications, that’s what I’m doing, but we don’t really have that many fashion classes.”
While many students live a fashion-forward lifestyle, the University of Mississippi has no official fashion major or degree. The closest area of study one can pursue is a specialization in fashion promotion and media through the integrated marketing communications degree path.
To achieve the specialization, one must meet the integrated marketing communications de-
gree requirements and complete IMC 314 Fashion Promotion and Media and IMC 315 Fashion Merchandising. Additionally, students must choose between IMC 309: Introduction to Video Storytelling or IMC 376: Commercial Photography, another pre-approved three-credit hour fashion-themed course or a three-credit hour fashion-themed internship.
Brooke echoed the sentiments of Sweeney and Drawbaugh.
“Everyone comes here to shop, and you walk to class, and you see so many people who are dressed up for class and the Grove itself — there’s all this fashion,” Brooke said.
In the months leading up to the spring fashion show, the organization plans to host smaller fashion-centric events for members that aim to raise funds and build community.
Along with upcoming events and joining as a general member, students can participate by joining committees, Drawbaugh said.
“We still have members, but we also have committees, so there’s a lot of people on committees where they do more of the helping out and stuff, but anyone can really help out,” Drawbaugh said.
In recruiting new members, Sweeney reiterated the club’s desire to attract students from all corners of campus.
“We want to get students from every single club on campus (and of) all different backgrounds to showcase all of Ole Miss,” Sweeney said.
Kate Drawbaugh
PHOTO COURTESY: UM FASHION PANEL
Sam Ermold
PHOTO COURTESY: UM FASHION PANEL
Cameron Carter and Ava Ermold
PHOTO COURTESY: UM FASHION PANEL
ARTS FESTIVAL
continued from page 1
“The arts are a great way to share a part of yourself with others,” Blansett said. “Huge thank you to CAN for organizing this event.”
Though she has been creating art since she was a child, Blansett never has had the opportunity to sell any of her pieces.
“I have never sold prints of my digital illustrations before,” Blansett said. “I usually keep my artwork to myself because it can be personal, but the beauty of art is that anyone can find their own meaning and appeal in something I create.”
Blansett also provided more detail on the CAN’s mission.
“The Collaborative Arts Network is a student-led organization that wants to showcase the talent of UM students,” Blansett said. “This includes artwork, mu -
sic and even literature.”
Tennessee songwriter Izzy Arthurs is a student musician who will perform at the concert.
“I’m so excited to bring my full band down from Tennessee to the Grove stage,” Arthurs said. “We will close out the show.”
Arthurs’ band is composed of professional musicians from Tennessee. Arthurs is working on her debut album.
“We are so grateful to be a part of (the festival),” Arthurs said. “Ross, his team and all the artists and musicians have been working hard to make it a reality.”
Cohen plans to continue providing opportunities for artists and musicians to share their talents.
“Our goal is to do more events like this in the future and give both artists and other students valuable learning experiences,” Cohen said.
“I’m hoping that (attendees) get to experience part of what the local art and music scene has to offer and maybe find some fun art to purchase.”
- Ross Cohen Collaborative Arts Network president
TEDxUniversityofMississippi throws watch party at RC South
“Our speakers are primarily Ole Miss faculty and graduate students as well as Oxford community members, although we have been fortunate to have speakers from outside Oxford and Mississippi come speak,” McCann said. “We always try to have a broad range of topics in order to have something that will appeal to everyone.”
McCann hopes that the watch party will introduce students to TEDx and convince them to give the February event a try.
“Our students should be interested in attending an event like this because our mission is to share new ideas,” McCann said. “The speakers we put on our stage are all speaking about new, innovative (and) creative things that most people don’t normally think about or consider. We have produced talks about art, engineering, language, technology, personal testimonies and so many more.”
McCann described the purpose of the TEDx talks.
TEDxUniversityofMississippi will host a watch party of past TEDx talks in Residence College South next week. All students are invited to attend.
Carter Maharrey, a junior real estate major from Tupelo, Miss., is the head of marketing for TEDxUniversityofMississippi. He has made an effort to publicize the watch party as much as possible.
“I have hosted tabling events outside of the union with a group of people in TEDx to spread the word about our event on Thursday,” Maharrey said. “We are letting people know that we are super excited for the event this year and that they should come watch past events that TEDx UofM has hosted before.”
The watch party tonight is intended to garner interest for the live, in-person TEDx talks, which will take place at the Ford Center in February 2025. This event will mark the 10th anniversary of TEDx talks on the university’s campus.
Morgan McCann, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Birmingham, Ala., is the chief of staff for TedxUniversityofMississippi. The theme for this year’s event is “Purpose and Potential,” and the speakers, McCann shared, will include many members of the Oxford community.
“TEDx is an independent affiliate licensed through TED,” McCann said. “There’s thousands of TEDx organizations all around the world. Through our TEDx license, we are able to elevate the voices of new ideas from our community and highlight talks from speakers outside the Oxford community who we think are relevant.”
Payton Vaughn, a sophomore psychology major from Chattanooga, Tenn., is the head of hospitality for TEDxUniversityofMississippi. She spoke on the importance of TEDx as a program.
“Ole Miss students should be interested in TEDx because it offers vast opportunities to engage and learn from speakers in various fields,” Vaughn said. “It offers a great chance to learn about global issues, new innovative ideas and gain a new perspective on topics that could be tied to their current coursework.”
McCann echoed how valuable TEDx has been to her throughout her college experience.
“I’ve been involved in TEDx since my freshman year, and I know that I’ve learned so much from our speakers over the years,” McCann said.
The watch party will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Dish at RC South.
“Getting involved in TEDx is the perfect way to apply the ‘ideas worth spreading’ to campus life,” Vaughn said.
NATE DONOHUE
A&C Staff Writer
Morgan McCann
PHOTO COURTESY: MORGAN MCCANN
Izzy Arthurs, a Tennessee songwriter and the final performer at the Collaborative Arts Network Fall Festival.
PHOTO COURTESY: HANNAH GORE PHOTOGRAPHY
According to the CFP website, “The selection committee ranks the teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and comparison of results against common opponents.”
If Ole Miss defeats its next two opponents — Florida and Mississippi State — to finish the regular season 10-2, the Rebels would be in the driver’s seat for a top-12 finish.
Per Fanduel Sports Book, Ole Miss has the eighth best odds to make the playoffs at -350. They share these odds with three other teams, including Alabama, Tennessee and Notre Dame. Based on these odds, Ole Miss controls their own destiny.
There are concerns, however, that Ole Miss might not make the cut due to the other teams currently in the mix to earn a spot in postseason play.
There are currently 13 teams — including Ole Miss at 60.9% — with an above 50% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN’s football power index.
Of those 13 teams, five of them are in the SEC, which could hurt Ole Miss’ chances even more. It is likely only four SEC teams will make the playoffs.
The other SEC teams are Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Of those four teams, two of them — Tennessee and Georgia — will play each other in the remainder of the regular season. The loser will likely be out of the playoffs. It is also shaping up to look like Texas and Alabama will play in the SEC championship, with the loser also missing out on the playoffs.
In order for the Rebels to be more comfortable in their playoff position, Tennessee needs to beat Georgia, and if Alabama makes it to the SEC title game, they would need to lose to Texas. It also goes without saying that Ole Miss needs to, in the words of quarterback Jaxson Dart, “win out.”
Senior public policy leadership major Harris Smith is confident in the Rebels ability to “win out” and make it to the playoffs.
“I believe we are getting
hot at the right time, and I believe Kiffin and company are Ole Miss’s best shot for a national championship in recent CFB history,” Smith said.
Senior marketing major Carter Matulich shared Smith’s confidence.
“Overall, (I am) pretty confident in our playoff hopes,” Matulich said. “Teams like Notre Dame and Tennessee losing will definitely play to our favor and maybe even get to see a Rebs home playoff game.”
If things happen correctly for Ole Miss, who could they face?
Overall, most people predict the Rebels falling into the No. 8-11 range, meaning that they could either host a playoff game or have to travel to a hostile environment, such as Penn State.
On3’s Andy Staples has the Rebels coming in at the No. 8 seed, hosting a playoff game against the No. 9 Notre Dame. This scenario is not ideal, as the Rebels would have No. 1 Oregon waiting for them if they manage to beat the Fighting Irish. If they make it past Oregon, they would face either SMU, Ohio State or Boise State for a shot to be in the national title game.
The Sporting News’ Bill Bender has the Rebels coming in at the No. 11 seed facing No. 6 Penn State. While an away game in Happy Valley would be tough, the Nittany Lions have struggled in big games this season. In this scenario, if they win, the Rebels would face No. 3 BYU, who continue to win games and remain undefeated.
While BYU is a good team, they have clear problems, as seen in their narrow victory against Utah in the Holy War. Ole Miss would then face an SEC team — Texas, Tennessee or Alabama for a shot at the national title. This is the best option, when compared with the rest of the predictions for the Rebels.
Then there’s the Athletic’s Austin Mock, who has Ole Miss slotted in at the No. 10 spot, facing No. 7 Notre Dame. This is the nightmare scenario if the Rebels get in, as they would have to travel to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish. If they managed to win that game, Ole Miss would then move on to face the No. 3 Texas Longhorns, possibly the best team in the SEC.
The Rebels’ playoff run would more than likely end
SUDOKU©
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there, but if not, they would face Miami, Georgia or Penn State to potentially play in the National Championship. Of the three outcomes that were shown, this would be the most difficult road for Ole Miss.
With their fate in their hands, the Rebels will look to finish the regular season strong, aiming to win out and secure an official playoff berth for the postseason. Ole Miss’ away game at the Swamp against Florida could be a trap game, but the Gators recently got de molished by Texas. The Rebels will play Mississippi State in Oxford. While the home team will be heavily favored, anything can happen on rivalry week.
In the meantime, fans who attended the historic Geor gia game have been reflect ing and reminiscing on the events of Saturday night.
The win was Ole Miss Head Coach Lane Kiffin’s first AP Top 5 win as head coach for the Reb els. Just last year, the Rebels were humbled by the Bulldogs on their home turf in Athens, Ga., when Georgia defeated Ole Miss 52-17. This was one of the Reb els’ two losses last year. The oth er came from a 24-10 loss in Bry ant-Denny Stadium to Alabama.
In addition to rushing the field — twice — which resulted in $350,000 in fines, fans also tore down the goal posts and brought them to the Square.
“I was ecstatic about the win,” sophomore public policy leadership major Trey McK ean said. “Our defense played physical all game long, and our pass rush was pressuring Car son Beck without even needing to blitz. Dart looked comfort able in the pocket and used his legs well when he had to.”
For other students, the win was eye opening in the sense of what it is like to be a part of the SEC Football culture.
“As somebody who two years ago would never imagine they would end up at an SEC school, or much less attend a football game, it helped me see the importance that games like this have on towns, communi ties and our students,” sopho more public policy leadership major Edward Wilson said.
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HOW TO PLAY
Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 with no repeats.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
TOUGH
Rebel volleyball awaits Arkansas and Mississippi State at home
SARAH FENTON Sports Staff Writer
Ole Miss Women’s Volleyball heads into this weekend with a loaded SEC slate, hosting Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 15 and Mississippi State on Sunday, Nov. 17.
The Rebels are coming off of a 3-2 loss against Oklahoma on Nov. 8 and currently have a 14-9 overall record (4-7 SEC). The Rebels also lost 3-1 to No. 24 Florida Nov. 3 in Gainesville, Fla.
Key players to watch as Ole Miss takes on Arkansas at the Gillom Center include outside hitter Nia Washington, who recently led the team with 19 kills, and middle blocker Payton Brgoch, who has consistently delivered in both offense and defense.
The combination of Brgoch and outside hitter Sasha Ratliff, who recently joined the exclusive 1,000-kill club at Ole Miss, will likely set the pace against Arkansas.
The Razorbacks are 16-7 (6-5 in SEC) after their clean sweep win against South Carolina. Earlier this season, the Rebels played Arkansas in
Fayetteville, Ark., with the Razorbacks sweeping 3-0, although each set was close.
The Razorbacks have a solid roster. Aniya Madkin, a freshman outside hitter, who led the Arkansas offense with 15 kills during their game against Ole Miss, continues to be a significant contributor. Outside hitter Olivia Ruy had a .385 hitting percentage with 12 kills and just two mistakes. Hannah Hogue, a senior setter with one ace, 38 assists and 12 digs for a double-double, demonstrated her usual steadiness.
After challenging Arkansas, Ole Miss will face longtime rival Mississippi State on Sunday, Nov. 17.
The Bulldogs have a 10-10 overall record (4-7 SEC).
The Bulldogs will face Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., prior to their road trip to Oxford. There are a few key players to watch on Mississippi State’s team. Freshman libero Mckenna Yates recorded a career-high 28 digs against Oklahoma. Outside hitter Kailin Newsome has a career 74 kills this season, and setter Ceci Harness collected a team-
best of 45 assists and two blocks against the Sooners.
LILY GREEN Sports Staff Writer
Ole Miss will travel to Dover, Del., to take on the Delaware State Hornets on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. The Rebels currently sit at 1-1, and the Hornets are at 1-2. Here is how the start of the season has gone for both teams.
Previous games
Ole Miss started the season ranked No. 20 nationally, becoming one of six ranked SEC schools. The Rebels sit behind South Carolina, Texas, LSU and Oklahoma. Al -
The last time the Rebels and the Bulldogs competed, Ole Miss fell in four sets on the road in Starkville, Miss., on Oct. 23. This matchup is significant for the Rebels as the end of the regular season approaches.
Fans should anticipate a fierce and highly competitive game between the two programs because of the high stakes in earning a spot in the postseason SEC Tournament.
The Rebels will take on the Razorbacks on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. and challenge the Bulldogs on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. Both matches will be held in the Gillom Athletics Performance Center and can be watched on ESPN+.
Ole Miss Women’s Basketball hits the road to challenge Delaware State
abama is ranked No. 24.
In their first game, the Rebels lost to USC 68-66. The Trojans were ranked No. 3 nationally.
With four three-pointers, guard KK Deans led the Rebels in points by scoring 19. She also had three rebounds and a block.
Forward Madison Scott also helped get 14 points on the board. Scott also had four rebounds and two steals.
The Rebels bounced back from their first defeat, dominating the Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions 85-24 on Sunday in their home-opener.
Ole Miss outscored UAPB by double-digits in all four quarters. On top of that, the Rebels did not allow the Golden Lions to reach double-digits in any of the quarters.
Offensively, Ole Miss took charge with three players scoring double digits: guard Ayanna Thompson, forward Christeen Iwuala and Deans. They had a combined 39 points, 16 rebounds and two steals.
Other notable players included Scott and guard Kennedy Todd-Williams. Scott had three rebounds, three blocks and eight points, and Todd-Wil -
liams had 10 rebounds, one block and six points.
Delaware State
While Delaware State dismantled the Georgian Court Lions in its first game, they have suffered losses in their last two games. After losing to the Dayton Flyers 79-44 and Cincinnati Bears 83-46, Delaware State has not had a close game this season.
Despite these blowouts, the Hornets have players to look out for. Guard Kyra Lawrence put up 16 points against Georgian Court and had two steals and three rebounds.
Hornets guard Mahogany Cottingham also scored 16 points and had three steals and four rebounds.
According to ESPN Analytics, Ole Miss has a 99% chance of defeating Delaware State.
What’s next?
After playing Delaware State, Ole Miss will return to Oxford to host the Jackson State Tigers. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Nov. 18. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
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Nia Washington celebrates after winning a point against Oklahoma on Nov. 8.
America’s libraries are dying
“Instead of doom scrolling, students should thumb through one of the millions of texts available in our library.”
KADIN COLLIER Opinion Contributor
While the nascence of modern technology has undoubtedly brought humanity more connection than ever before, it has also severed our connection to the beautiful world of books.
“Grapes of Wrath?” Check out TikTok and its never ending scrolls of trending dances, skincare reviews and debauchery instead. “Where the Red Fern Grows?” Try Instagram Reels and mom content galore. “1984?” Sign in to your family’s Netflix account and rewatch “Breaking Bad” for the thirteenth time.
As we become more entranced by the avalanche of dopamine hits that social media and other digital outlets provide so readily, our brain’s “yay, you got it!” receptors have been fried to oblivion. As much as you’re probably tired of the less technologically-advanced boomer generation claiming your attention spans are decreasing because of those d–n phones, the science backs their ridicule.
On average, Gen-Zers (that’s us, folks) read a mere seven minutes a day. That’s compared to the Silent Generations’ (those in the 78+ age group) 35 minutes a day.
If you can’t last 13 seconds watching a TikTok, you absolutely cannot trudge through one chapter of a classic. It is this very inability to stay locked in that has torn people from the pages to the screens, a travesty unrivaled by any other social phenomena.
For the J.D. Williams Library at Ole Miss — a treasure trove of books ancient and modern, non-fiction and fantastical, scientific and satiric, risque and prudent — there seems to be less and less appreciation for this sanctuary other than its existence as one of the silent spots with an adjacent Starbucks on campus.
As our collective attention is diverted from intellectual expansion to brain rot, our appreciation of libraries and the literature within is shrinking. Each and every one of the 3,821,704
volumes at our university are a unique outlet for discovery, but they’ve begun collecting dust on the shelves.
I fear that if we do not make an active effort to “get off those d–n phones,” we’ll lose an essential instrument of connection to the world.
This catastrophe creeps beyond the plastered brick and marbled columns of Ole Miss’ Library — it has leaked into our lecture halls, distorting syllabi and forcing faculty to change their teaching styles for the worse. Ninety-seven percent of professors believe it is “important” or “very important” for students to complete all of their assigned reading before class, but only 3% of students actually do.
To some extent, this is understandable. The amount of reading the average professor assigns is daunting. The only reason we’ve been wired to see it that way, however, is that we’ve stopped reading altogether. In a world where the younger generations have detached themselves from literature, texts from classes you once found fascinating seem utterly mundane.
The bottom line is, if we don’t pick up a novel every once and a while instead of doom scrolling for a consecutive eight hours — we all are victims to the algorithmic monster — what we see as monotonous will lose even more of its allure.
So I implore you to pick up a book. Even if it’s 30 minutes of reading a day, rebuilding the love for literature that has been leached away by modern distractions is essential to bettering ourselves, reinvigorating the classroom experience and centering our society around libraries once again.
Kadin Collier is a freshman Arabic and international studies double major from Tokyo.
Kadin Collier