What Is 2010 Ole Miss Rebels football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2010 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 4–8 record under head coach Houston Nutt. They competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and played home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium. The team failed to qualify for a bowl game for the second consecutive year.

Key Facts

The 2010 Ole Miss Rebels finished with a 4–8 overall record.
They played in the SEC West Division under head coach Houston Nutt.
Home games were held at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
The team scored 232 total points, averaging 19.3 points per game.
Ole Miss failed to qualify for a postseason bowl game in 2010.

Overview

The 2010 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi in the 2010 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season. Competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) West Division, the team was led by second-year head coach Houston Nutt and played its home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.

Despite high expectations following a 9–4 season in 2008, the program struggled in 2010, finishing with a 4–8 overall record and a 2–6 mark in conference play. The season marked the second consecutive year without a bowl appearance, a significant downturn from previous years.

The team opened the season with a loss to BYU in the 2010 season opener, falling 14–13 in a game marred by missed opportunities and defensive lapses.
Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, a transfer from Oregon, started the first few games but was hampered by injuries and inconsistency, throwing for 1,450 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Rebels' best performance came in a 35–13 win over Vanderbilt in October, where they dominated on both sides of the ball and showed signs of offensive improvement.
Defensively, Ole Miss allowed an average of 27.8 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the SEC in total defense and struggling to contain mobile quarterbacks.
The team's final game was a 31–27 loss to Mississippi State in the annual Egg Bowl, a defeat that extended their losing streak in the rivalry to three games.

Season Performance

The 2010 campaign was marked by inconsistency on offense, defensive breakdowns, and an inability to win close games. Despite flashes of potential, the Rebels failed to build momentum, particularly in SEC matchups.

Record: The team finished with a 4–8 overall record, including a 2–6 mark in SEC play, placing fifth in the seven-team West Division.
Offensive output: Ole Miss averaged 19.3 points per game, totaling 232 points across 12 games, with inconsistent quarterback play affecting rhythm.
Defensive struggles: The defense allowed 334 points on the season, struggling particularly against the run and in third-down situations.
Home record: The Rebels went 3–3 at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, winning non-conference games but losing key SEC matchups at home.
Key player: Running back Brandon Bolden led the team with 668 rushing yards and five touchdowns despite missing two games due to injury.
Coaching: Head coach Houston Nutt remained under pressure, with fans calling for changes after the team's continued decline from 2008 standards.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2010 Ole Miss Rebels compared to the previous season and a recent successful year:

Season	Overall Record	SEC Record	Bowl Game	Points For	Points Against
2010	4–8	2–6	None	232	334
2009	9–4	4–4	Chick-fil-A Bowl	345	248
2008	9–4	4–4	Sugar Bowl	392	267
2007	3–9	1–7	None	215	307
2006	4–7	2–6	None	258	278

The 2010 season represented a regression from the promising 9–4 campaigns of 2008 and 2009, particularly in offensive consistency and conference competitiveness. While not as poor as 2007, the lack of bowl eligibility and continued struggles in the Egg Bowl fueled fan frustration.

Why It Matters

The 2010 season was a turning point in the perception of Houston Nutt's tenure and the program's direction. It highlighted deeper organizational and recruiting challenges that would persist in the following years.

The failure to win key non-conference games, such as the opener against BYU, damaged early-season momentum and confidence.
Quarterback instability, with injuries to Masoli and limited development of backups, exposed a lack of depth at a critical position.
Defensive recruiting weaknesses became evident, as the unit failed to adapt to the fast-paced, spread offenses common in the SEC.
The Egg Bowl loss extended a losing streak to Mississippi State, intensifying pressure on the coaching staff and athletic department.
Fan attendance and morale declined at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the program’s trajectory.
The season underscored the need for long-term structural changes, eventually leading to Nutt’s dismissal after the 2011 season.

Ultimately, the 2010 Ole Miss Rebels season serves as a cautionary tale about the volatility of college football success and the importance of sustained investment in coaching and player development.