A preseason test for the Rebels
The University of Mississippi’s men’s basketball team will meet the University of Alabama in a non‑conference exhibition on the evening of Thursday, October 15, inside the historic Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama. The game is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. Central Time, giving fans a rare early‑season glimpse of the Rebels’ new‑look squad.
Head coach Chris Beard, who took the reins last offseason, said the matchup is more than a warm‑up; it is a chance to test the team’s chemistry and conditioning against a program that reached the Sweet 16 a year ago. “Playing Alabama gives us a real test,” Beard told reporters during a press conference last week. “We want to see where we stand before the grind of the SEC schedule begins.”
The last meeting between the two schools came in the 2026 SEC Tournament, where Ole Miss edged Alabama 80‑79 in a thriller that went down to the final possession. That victory remains a point of pride for the Rebels, who hope to carry that momentum into the exhibition.
Tickets for the Boutwell showdown are currently on sale through the venue’s official site, www.ballininboutwell.com, with a limited number of early‑bird discounts still available. Season ticket holders for the 2026‑27 campaign were granted renewal access beginning July 1, and new tickets can be purchased at OleMissTix.com, the athletic department’s primary ticket portal.
Fans can stay updated on the team’s progress through the official social channels: follow @OleMissMBB on X, like the Facebook page “Ole Miss Men’s Basketball,” and check the Instagram feed @olemissmbb for behind‑the‑scenes content and live updates.
The exhibition also marks a symbolic return to Birmingham for the Rebels, who last played in the city during the 2023 NCAA Tournament regional final. For many supporters, the game is a homecoming of sorts, blending the excitement of a new season with the nostalgia of past battles.