First year head coach Houston Nutt led the team from four straight losing seasons to a 9–4 record and a 5–3 mark in conference play. The improvement from 2007–2008 was the best single-season improvement for an Ole Miss team since 1947, when Johnny Vaught debuted as coach. The Rebels' second- place finish in the SEC Western Division was their second best finish in the division since its inception in 1992. The 2008 squad concluded the season by defeating Texas Tech 47–34 in the 2009 Cotton Bowl.
The 2009 season marked the first time Ole Miss has ever played Southeastern Louisiana, UAB and Northern Arizona in football.
2009 season highlights
On July 7, 2009, the Ole Miss athletic department announced that the 2009 training camp and team would be the subject of a reality television show called Gridiron U, which will air on TruTV. Filming was scheduled to begin in early August and end September 6. The camera crew came in June to interview players and coaches as well as to film key locations on campus. However, head coach Houston Nutt canceled the team's participation in the new show. Ole Miss was on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the August 17, 2009 issue. SI's preseason rankings has the Rebels ranked at #6. In late August 2009, the Ole Miss Athletic Department announced that season tickets were sold out for what is believed to be the first time in school history. In the third week of the season, on September 20, 2009, Ole Miss was ranked #4 in the AP poll and #5 in the Coaches Poll, the highest the Rebels have been ranked since the Archie Manning-lead, and John Vaught-coached, team of 1970 which also made it to #4. Ole Miss' highest ranking ever was #1 in 1964. Ole Miss set a school record with four straight games, going back to the 2008 season, of scoring forty or more points after defeating Southeastern Louisiana 52–6 on September 19, 2009. Also as of the Southeastern Louisiana win, the Rebels had the second longest winning streak in the nation, having won eight straight games dating back to the 2008 season. The national champion Florida team had the first longest winning streak after Utah lost. Ole Miss' defeat of Tennessee on November 14, 2009 was the first time Tennessee had ever lost in Ole Miss' home stadium. Tennessee now holds a 5–1 mark against Ole Miss in Ole Miss' home stadium. Ole Miss' defeat of LSU on November 21, 2009 was the Rebels first win at home against LSU since 1998.
Game summaries
Memphis
Southeastern Louisiana
South Carolina
Vanderbilt
Alabama
UAB
Arkansas
Auburn
Northern Arizona
Tennessee
Louisiana State
Mississippi State
Oklahoma State
Coaching staff
Staff notes
On January 16, Terry Price began his second stint with the Ole Miss Rebels football staff. He coached defensive ends for the Rebels from 1995–98. He then went on to be the defensive line coach at Auburn from 1999 to 2008.
On January 20, former Rebel football player Lanier Goethie signed on as a graduate assistant. In his four years playing Linebacker for Ole Miss, he had a total of 178 tackles and served as a team co-captain as a senior. He was also the 2002 Chucky Mullins Courage Award recipient.
