What Is 1999 Ole Miss Rebels football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1999 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 7-5 record under head coach Tommy Tuberville. They played in the Independence Bowl, defeating Oklahoma State 27-24.

Key Facts

The 1999 Ole Miss Rebels finished the season with a 7-5 overall record
Head coach Tommy Tuberville led the team in his final season before departing for Auburn
The team played in the Independence Bowl on December 31, 1999
Ole Miss defeated Oklahoma State 27-24 in the Independence Bowl
Quarterback Deuce McAllister was a key player, rushing for 1,186 yards

Overview

The 1999 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. Competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Western Division, the team was led by head coach Tommy Tuberville, who was in his final year at Ole Miss before accepting the head coaching position at Auburn.

The Rebels finished the regular season with a 6-5 record, becoming bowl-eligible and earning a spot in the Independence Bowl. Their performance marked a modest improvement from previous seasons and showcased emerging talent, particularly on offense.

Record: The team finished the season with a 7-5 overall record, including a 3-5 mark in SEC conference play.
Bowl Game: Ole Miss played in the Independence Bowl on December 31, 1999, defeating Oklahoma State 27-24 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Head Coach:Tommy Tuberville coached his final game for Ole Miss before leaving for Auburn, finishing with a 20-13 record over three seasons.
Key Player: Running back Deuce McAllister rushed for 1,186 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning Freshman All-American honors.
Season Highlight: A 21-17 victory over LSU in October was a pivotal win that helped secure bowl eligibility.

Season Performance

The 1999 season featured a mix of close wins and tough losses, with the Rebels showing resilience in key moments. Their offense, led by McAllister and quarterback Eli Manning’s older brother, Benji, relied heavily on the running game.

Offensive Output: Ole Miss averaged 27.3 points per game, ranking 42nd nationally in scoring offense.
Defensive Stats: The defense allowed 24.6 points per game, struggling at times against high-powered SEC offenses.
Home Games: The Rebels played their home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, drawing an average of over 50,000 fans per game.
SEC Competition: They faced tough opponents including Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee, with mixed results in conference play.
Quarterback:Benji Walker started most games at quarterback, throwing for 1,852 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 1999 Ole Miss Rebels compared to other SEC teams and their own recent history:

Team	Overall Record	SEC Record	Bowl Result	Key Player
1999 Ole Miss	7-5	3-5	W 27-24 vs. Oklahoma State	Deuce McAllister
1998 Ole Miss	6-6	3-5	Did not qualify	Deuce McAllister
1999 Alabama	8-4	5-3	L 35-31 in Music City Bowl	Shaun Alexander
1999 LSU	4-7	2-6	Did not qualify	Josh Reed
1999 Tennessee	9-3	6-2	W 23-16 vs. Virginia Tech in Citrus Bowl	Peerless Price

The 1999 Ole Miss season was notable for its bowl victory and the emergence of Deuce McAllister, who would become a star in future seasons. Compared to other SEC teams, they were mid-tier, outperforming LSU and Mississippi State but falling short of division leaders like Tennessee and Alabama. The Independence Bowl win provided momentum heading into the next season under new head coach David Cutcliffe.

Why It Matters

The 1999 season was a transitional year for Ole Miss football, bridging the Tuberville era and the incoming Cutcliffe regime. It highlighted the program's potential and set the stage for future success.

Player Development:Deuce McAllister emerged as a star, later becoming a first-round NFL draft pick in 2001.
Coaching Transition: Tommy Tuberville’s departure marked the end of an era, with David Cutcliffe taking over in 2000.
Bowl Appearance: The Independence Bowl berth helped maintain fan engagement and recruiting momentum.
Recruiting Impact: Success on the field in 1999 helped attract future talent, including Eli Manning in 2000.
Program Stability: The season demonstrated improvement over 1998, showing progress despite coaching uncertainty.
Historical Context: This team was part of Ole Miss’s efforts to rebuild in the late 1990s after a period of inconsistency.

The 1999 Ole Miss Rebels season may not have been record-breaking, but it played a crucial role in the program’s evolution, laying groundwork for future competitiveness in the SEC.