What Are the Three Biggest Baseball Series for the Rebels in the 2024 Campaign?
The Ole Miss Rebels' baseball season is quickly approaching, and with that comes expectations.
After spending time in paradise against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, what are some of the biggest series the Rebels will see on the diamond this spring? Let's dive in below.
Iowa Hawkeyes (March 1 - March 3, Oxford, Miss.)
While Iowa might not scream "big-time series," the Hawkeyes are inside D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25 at the 20 spot. This early season matchup also continues the trend of playing Big Ten squads toward the beginning of the year for the Rebels. A series win could go a long way toward building confidence in a team with many new faces before battling it out in conference play.
South Carolina Gamecocks (March 15 - March 17, Oxford, Miss.)
The series against the Gamecocks marks the opening of SEC play. South Carolina reached the Gainesville Super Regional last season before losing to the Florida Gators, and they also hosted a Regional of their own. The Gamecocks are ranked 25th in D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 25, and this series will be the first time for many Rebel players to experience SEC play. With the Rebs at home behind what will be enormous crowds, finding a way to grab a series win can help the team find footing early in conference play.
Mississippi State Bulldogs (April 12th - April 14th, Oxford, Miss.)
This rivalry has been very one-sided as of late as the Rebs haven’t won a series against the Bulldogs since 2015. This could be the year to erase those demons.
This series also looms large for other reasons as this conference matchup could hold the keys to making it back to Hoover after both teams missed the SEC tournament last season. With the Rebs getting the Bulldogs at Swayze, a series win midway through conference play could, in turn, provide a surge to end the regular season.
Who Will Be Ole Miss Baseball's Starting 9 in 2024?
Honorable Mentions
Arkansas (April 4 - April 6, Fayetteville, Ark.)
Dave Van Horn and the Hogs are very tough to beat, and it's in Fayetteville, rarely favorable territory for Ole Miss.
LSU (May 16 -- May18, Baton Rouge, La.)
SEC play ends for the Rebels at Alex Box Stadium against the defending National Champions, always a tough matchup.