What Is 1940 Ole Miss Rebels football

Overview

The 1940 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi in the 1940 college football season, marking the program's 47th year of competition. Competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Rebels were led by head coach Harry Mehre, who was in his third season at the helm.

The team finished with a 6–4–1 overall record and a 3–2–1 mark in conference play, placing them in the upper half of the SEC standings. Despite not winning a national title or appearing in a bowl game, the 1940 season demonstrated steady improvement under Mehre’s leadership.

• Record: The Rebels posted a 6–4–1 overall record, showing moderate success against a mix of regional and conference opponents.
• Head Coach:Harry Mehre guided the team in his third season, having taken over in 1938 after the departure of previous coach Edwin Henderson.
• Scoring: Ole Miss scored 174 points across 11 games while allowing 117 points, indicating a balanced offensive and defensive performance.
• Home Stadium: The team played home games at Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, named after author William Faulkner’s grandfather.
• SEC Play: Their 3–2–1 conference record placed them competitively within the Southeastern Conference during a transitional era in college football.

Season Performance

The 1940 campaign featured a mix of strong showings and narrow defeats, reflecting the team's growing consistency under Mehre. Several games were decided by less than a touchdown, highlighting the competitiveness of the Rebels despite limited national recognition.

• September 28: Opened the season with a 20–0 win over Memphis, setting a solid tone with a shutout victory.
• October 5: Lost 13–6 to Tulane, a strong program at the time, in a hard-fought road game.
• October 12: Secured a 19–13 win over Mississippi State, a key victory in the in-state rivalry.
• October 26: Tied 7–7 with Vanderbilt, a result that kept them competitive in the SEC standings.
• November 9: Suffered a 20–0 loss to Tennessee, one of the top teams in the nation that season.
• November 23: Closed the regular season with a 13–7 win over Mississippi College, improving their win total from the prior year.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 1940 Ole Miss Rebels stacked up against key SEC peers in terms of record, scoring, and conference performance:

The table illustrates that while Ole Miss was not among the elite SEC teams like Tennessee or Alabama, their performance was solid compared to peers. Their scoring margin and conference record placed them in the middle tier of the league, reflecting a rebuilding phase under coach Mehre.

Why It Matters

The 1940 season is a notable chapter in Ole Miss football history, representing continuity during a period of evolving college football dynamics. Though not a championship year, it laid groundwork for future competitiveness in the SEC.

• Program Development: The 6–4–1 record showed improvement from the 3–7 record in 1939, indicating positive momentum under Mehre.
• SEC Identity: Competing in the 1940 Southeastern Conference helped solidify Ole Miss as a consistent conference member.
• Recruiting: Strong performances against regional rivals likely aided in attracting local talent to the Oxford campus.
• Historical Context: The season occurred during World War II's early years, a time when college football faced uncertainty due to military enlistments.
• Stadium Legacy: Hemingway Stadium, where the Rebels played, would later be expanded and renamed, becoming a lasting symbol of the program.
• Coaching Tenure: Harry Mehre’s leadership through the 1938–1945 seasons provided stability during a transitional era for the university.

The 1940 Ole Miss Rebels may not be remembered for trophies, but they contributed to the long-term growth of one of the South’s enduring football programs.