Dec. 28, 2011

OXFORD, Miss. - Following the SEC's merger of Texas A&M and Missouri into the conference slate, Ole Miss has finalized its football schedule for 2012, as announced Wednesday.

Highlighting the early portion of the season is home encounters with national powers from the Lone Star State, hosting Texas on Sept. 15 and Texas A&M on Oct. 6, while traditional SEC rivals head to Oxford later in the year, including Auburn on Oct. 13, Vanderbilt on Nov. 10 and MSU on Nov. 24 for the Egg Bowl.

The Hugh Freeze era will officially begin on Sept. 1 against Central Arkansas. The three-game, season-opening homestand will continue with UTEP on Sept. 8 followed by Texas.

The Rebels' road schedule opens in New Orleans to renew the historic rivalry with Tulane on Sept. 22. The SEC travel plans include battles at Alabama Sept. 29, Arkansas Oct. 27, Georgia Nov. 3 and LSU Nov. 17.

The Rebels will have an open date on Oct. 20.

"We have a major challenge in front of us but one we are looking forward to," said Freeze. "In non-conference play, I'm excited for our fans to have an outstanding program like Texas come to Oxford. Obviously we compete in the nation's toughest division, so we will need to be at our best every Saturday."

The slate will feature five of the six participants in the previous three BCS national title games and five of the last seven champions. Nine of the Rebels' 11 FBS opponents, including all eight SEC teams, earned bowl bids this season, while FCS foe UCA reached the second round of the playoffs.

Renewals for 2012 season tickets and donations will be available beginning in February, and season tickets will go on sale to the general public in March.

OLE MISS 2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

*SEC game