What Is 1956 Ole Miss Rebels football team

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Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1956 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 1956 NCAA University Division football season, finishing with a 7–3 record under head coach Johnny Vaught and winning the 1957 Sugar Bowl against Texas with a 13–0 victory.

Key Facts

The 1956 Ole Miss Rebels finished the season with a 7–3 overall record
Head coach Johnny Vaught led the team in his 8th season at the helm
Ole Miss defeated Texas 13–0 in the 1957 Sugar Bowl on January 1, 1957
The team played in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and went 4–2 in conference play
Quarterback Glynn Griffing was a key player, later becoming a team captain in 1957

Overview

The 1956 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi in the NCAA University Division football season, marking the program's 64th season of play. Coached by Johnny Vaught in his eighth year, the team competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and achieved a winning record despite facing several ranked opponents.

The Rebels demonstrated resilience throughout the season, culminating in a dominant performance in a major postseason bowl game. Their success helped solidify Ole Miss as a rising power in southern college football during the mid-20th century.

Record: The team finished with a 7–3 overall record, including a 4–2 mark in SEC conference play, placing them in strong contention for a bowl bid.
Sugar Bowl victory: Ole Miss defeated the Texas Longhorns 13–0 in the 1957 Sugar Bowl on January 1, 1957, in New Orleans, marking a significant achievement.
Head coach:Johnny Vaught, in his eighth season, continued to build a disciplined, defense-first program that emphasized fundamentals and team cohesion.
Key player: Quarterback Glynn Griffing played a crucial role and would go on to serve as team captain the following season, showcasing leadership early.
Home stadium: The Rebels played home games at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi, which had a capacity of approximately 44,000 at the time.

Season Performance and Bowl Outcome

The 1956 season showcased Ole Miss’s growing competitiveness on the national stage, particularly through its defensive strength and strategic game planning. The team’s schedule included matchups against several strong SEC programs and culminated in a postseason showcase that highlighted their capabilities.

Defensive dominance: The Rebels recorded three shutouts during the season, including the Sugar Bowl, demonstrating a formidable defensive unit.
SEC performance: Ole Miss went 4–2 in conference games, defeating teams like Kentucky and Vanderbilt while losing close contests to Tennessee and LSU.
Non-conference wins: Victories over Memphis State (20–7) and SMU (20–13) helped build momentum heading into the postseason.
Losses: The Rebels lost to Tennessee (21–14), LSU (14–0), and Georgia (14–13), with all three defeats coming by one score or less.
Sugar Bowl MVP: While no official MVP was named, Ole Miss’s defense held Texas to zero points and limited their offense to under 200 total yards.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1956 Ole Miss Rebels to other top teams of the era reveals their standing among elite southern programs. The following table highlights key statistics and outcomes:

Team	Record	SEC Record	Bowl Result	Final Ranking
Ole Miss	7–3	4–2	Won Sugar Bowl (13–0 vs. Texas)	Unranked (AP)
Tennessee	8–3	4–3	Lost Cotton Bowl	15
LSU	9–2	6–1	Won Sugar Bowl (1958)	9
Georgia	8–3	5–3	Won Orange Bowl	12
Texas	9–2	N/A	Lost Sugar Bowl (0–13 vs. Ole Miss)	10

The 1956 Ole Miss Rebels were not ranked in the final Associated Press (AP) poll, despite defeating a top-10 Texas team. This outcome reflects the evolving nature of college football rankings and the limited number of bowl games at the time. Their performance, however, signaled a program on the rise under Vaught’s leadership.

Why It Matters

The 1956 season was a pivotal chapter in Ole Miss football history, contributing to the foundation of a golden era in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Sugar Bowl victory over a nationally ranked Texas team provided national recognition and momentum.

Program growth: The win elevated Ole Miss’s national profile and helped attract top-tier recruits in subsequent years.
Defensive legacy: The shutout victory emphasized the strength of Vaught’s defensive schemes, which became a hallmark of the program.
Historical context: The 1957 Sugar Bowl occurred during the early years of televised bowl games, increasing the team’s visibility.
Conference impact: Ole Miss’s performance contributed to the SEC’s growing prestige in national college football.
Player development: Athletes like Glynn Griffing gained experience that would lead to future team leadership roles.
Bowl tradition: The win marked Ole Miss’s third Sugar Bowl victory, reinforcing their status as a bowl-competitive team.

Overall, the 1956 Ole Miss Rebels season exemplified the program’s upward trajectory and laid the groundwork for future success, including undefeated seasons and national championships in the years that followed.