The past calendar year wasn't a great one for Ole Miss athletics past the Sugar Bowl win, as two of the three major programs missed the postseason, and Mike Bianco's baseball team lost two straight in the Oxford Regional after an excellent regular season.
As we do each year, here are 10 dates that should be of interest in 2017. And here's the 2016 list if you want to go back and check our work. Many were impactful but not all for the reasons expected at the time.
Date: Jan. 31, 2017
Significance: Ole Miss plays Mississippi State at The Pavilion that night, but the opponent isn't important. The end of January signals the finishing game of a stretch that should decide whether Ole Miss is a factor in the national or conference picture.
The Rebels are currently 0-1 in the league, but that was Kentucky. There are two road games before Ole Miss has a span of five home games out of the next seven, with trips to Columbia, Missouri and South Carolina thrown in. Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Baylor and MSU visit, giving the Rebels an opportunity to steady themselves. Baylor is currently No. 5 in the RPI, giving Ole Miss a great game in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Date: Feb. 1, 2017
Significance: With the NCAA investigation ongoing, this National Signing Day isn't shaping up like past ones for the Ole Miss football program. After a top-10 class last February that featured two of the top-five players nationally, this group will be about correct evaluations and finding pieces to help the talent and depth issues at certain positions.
Ole Miss starts Sunday No. 68 nationally in the Rivals.com team rankings. The Rebels upgraded its recruiting chops with several coaching changes in the past month, and those hires will have nearly three weeks after the dead period ends to close well and pull off a few wins to bolster the class to a respectable level. The NCAA investigation has helped end Ole Miss' chances at a number of major prospects.
Date: Feb. 17, 2017
Significance: This is opening day for Ole Miss baseball, as the Rebels host East Carolina, led by former assistant Cliff Godwin. The opponent isn't that notable, other than its the first step in a ridiculously difficult early schedule. It's important because it's the debut of Ole Miss' No. 1 ranked recruiting class. Every drafted player turned down professional baseball, catapulting Ole Miss to the top spot, according to D1Baseball.com and Baseball America. It's an incredibly accomplishment for a non-lottery program.
It's also a class that will raise expectations above already high levels. Perspective will be important, as the big names are only freshmen and will likely take some time to gel and transition to the level. But it's a significant boost in talent and exposure, as Bianco begins his 17th season as head coach. This is a launching point, and I expect the Rebels to improve as the season moves on.
Date: March 12, 2017
Significance: This is Selection Sunday, as Ole Miss has made the NCAA Tournament two of the past four seasons. Last season, however, the Rebels missed both the big event and the NIT despite a 20-12 record and 10-8 mark in the Southeastern Conference. To date, the Rebels don't have a negative on the resume but have missed some opportunities.
Ole Miss couldn't close against Creighton or Virginia Tech and struggled versus Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. The Rebels have back-to-back road games at Florida and Auburn up next. There's still that mentioned nonconference date with Baylor on the schedule and all but one league game, but it's important for Ole Miss to capitalize and not remain in neutral. The scheduling is very good, but wins have to come at some point.
Date: June, 9, 2017
Significance: There will be eight super regionals played throughout the country during this weekend, and the Rebels need to be one of the 16 teams participating. A lot of pieces remain from last season, and the newcomers mentioned above should be comfortable by the time the postseason arrives. I'll always contend super regional series are crapshoots, and the goal should be to play the two of the three series and see what happens.
With nine of 12 pre-SEC weekend games likely to be RPI helpers, the resume will be in good shape even if there are some early struggles. The guess is the Rebels go on a middle-to-late run and have some momentum going into SEC Tournament and regional play. And, no matter how that turns out, the experience is valuable for what should be a highly touted 2018 opportunity.
Date: Sept., 16, 2017
Significance: The Rebels' trip to Berkeley in week three seems like the swing game during the first half of the schedule. The Bears went 5-7 in 2016 but can put some points on the board. Ole Miss needs a 3-0 start before back-to-back road games at Alabama and Auburn. Cal beat Texas the past two seasons in nonconference play.
Barring disaster against South Alabama or UT Martin, this will be the last hurdle in getting that momentum. However, with South Alabama's win in Starkville last season, the Jags won't be intimidated, and I'm certain South Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, and son of former Ole Miss coordinator Dave Wommack, will have a worthwhile plan for the opener.
Date: Oct. 14, 2017
Significance: After the two weeks in the state of Alabama, Ole Miss hosts Vanderbilt to start a three-game homestand that also includes LSU and Arkansas. This has to be a win for the Rebels, but Ole Miss has struggled with Vandy at times, including a second-half meltdown this past November. The Commodores lead the series, 7-5, since 2005.
Starting with the Vandy game, Ole Miss only leaves Mississippi once the rest of the season, and that's a trip to Kentucky Nov. 4. Five of the last seven games are at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Date: Nov. 23, 2017
Significance: MSU won back the Egg Bowl trophy with a 55-20 victory in Oxford to clinch a bowl game at 5-7 and keep Ole Miss at home for the holidays. It was the Rebels' worst loss in the series in 100 years (36-0 in Tupelo in 1916) and broke Ole Miss two-game streak in the series. Now the series returns to Thanksgiving in 2017.
After all the debate about home team dominance, the road team has won twice in a row. This rivalry has become increasingly more toxic in recent years, and for the foreseeable future that tenor of the offseason is at least partially set by the result of this game.
Date: Dec. 3, 2017
Significance: It's the day after the SEC Championship Game and when the bowl matchups are announced. After the struggles in 2016 that resulted in five assistant coach changes, including both coordinators, Ole Miss needs to return to the bowl picture in 2017.
No matter the bowl tier or matchup, this could be a breath-of-fresh-air day for the Rebels. There's the chance to be back in the postseason and have the NCAA investigation over by this time. No matter the penalties, the investigation and uncertainty are worse than the result. A bowl trip and an end to a bad chapter would make this a great day for Ole Miss. Which brings us to...
Date: ?? ??, 2017
Significance: The exact date is unknown, but Ole Miss' nightmare NCAA investigation should come to a close this calendar year. It was near conclusion at two earlier points, but separate Laremy Tunsil issues extended it. Now, with the NCAA continuing to check things not Tunsil-related after the latest continuance, many consider it, at minimum against the spirit of how it should play out or, at most, a witch hunt in an attempt to make an example of Ole Miss and/or Hugh Freeze.
The North Carolina case has shown timelines are vague at best, but Ole Miss expects some major NCAA correspondence relatively soon. That step will likely signal a response from Ole Miss and more NCAA correspondence prior to the hearing with the committee on infractions. Ole Miss, we've been told, will attempt to expedite the process, but there's no guarantee that happens. The probe is almost certainly in its final calendar year, but it's impossible to put a month on when the completion occurs.
