Manning’s best moments at Ole Miss
QB will have his number retired at today’s game
OXFORD — Ole Miss football will retire quarterback Eli Manning’s No. 10 jersey this Saturday at Vaught-hemingway Stadium.
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of college football knows the Manning family’s connection to Ole Miss. Like his father Archie before him, Manning put up gigantic numbers and won big game after big game in Oxford before moving on to a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.
With Manning being honored for his achievements Saturday, let’s take a look back at some of the defining games and moments of his Ole Miss tenure:
2000: Sparsely used freshman year
Manning came to Ole Miss as a highly regarded recruit, not just the son of Archie Manning but the younger brother of then-indianapolis Colts star quarterback Peyton Manning.
The youngest Manning mostly sat and waited behind incumbent starter Romaro Miller in 2000. Manning threw passes in five games, completing 16 of 33 for 170 yards and an interception as the Rebels went 7-5.
Dec. 28, 2000: The coronation
Coming off the bench for Miller with the Rebels trailing 49-9, Manning threw for 167 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the Music City Bowl against West Virginia. The Rebels scored 29 unanswered second-half points but couldn’t come all the way back, losing 4938.
Sept. 1, 2001: First start, first records
In Manning’s first start, Ole Miss beat Murray State 49-14. Manning went 20for-23 with 271 yards and five touchdowns. Manning’s five touchdowns set a short-lived school record and between the first and third quarters he completed 18 consecutive passes, setting a record that stood until Matt Corral broke it in 2020.
Oct. 13, 2001: Taking down the big bad
With 1:34 left in the fourth quarter,
Manning led a five-play, 59-yard drive ending in a 3-yard touchdown pass to Joe Gunn to give Ole Miss a 27-24 win over Alabama. The win was Ole Miss’ first over Alabama since 1988 and only the Rebels’ third against the Crimson Tide since Manning’s father was under center.
Nov. 3, 2001: Record-breaking craziness
Arkansas beat Ole Miss 58-56 in triple overtime through no fault of Manning’s. Manning broke his own school record by throwing six touchdown passes, including five in overtime. He passed for 312 yards on 42 attempts.
Oct. 5, 2002: Getting the Rebels ranked
Manning led Ole Miss to a 17-14 win over No. 6 Florida, Ole Miss’ highestranked win since 1977, excluding forfeits. One week later, Ole Miss entered the polls at No. 25, the Rebels’ first ranking since the second game of Manning’s freshman year.
Oct. 26, 2002: Another career day, another loss
Manning threw for a career-high 414 yards in a 48-28 loss to Arkansas. His 414 yards were at the time the second-most in a single game in Ole Miss history, surpassed only by his father in 1969. To this day, Manning’s 75% completion percentage in that game is the best by any quarterback in Ole Miss history who attempted more than 50 passes in a game.
Dec. 27, 2002: First bowl win
Manning earned MVP honors at the Independence Bowl, leading the Rebels back from an early 10-point deficit and throwing for 313 yards and a score to beat Nebraska 27-23.
Oct. 4, 2003: Another big ranked win
Ole Miss beat No. 24 Florida 20-17 to give the Rebels their first ranked road win since 1997. This was the only game all season where Manning didn’t throw a touchdown pass.
Oct. 18, 2003: Manning’s most efficient day
In another win over Alabama, Manning completed 14 of 22 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. His passer efficiency rating of 196.5 was his highest in any career game against an SEC foe.
Nov. 24, 2003: So close
Ole Miss was 6-0 in SEC play and ranked No. 15. No. 3 LSU was 5-1 in SEC play and battling the computers to get into the BCS top two. A spot in the SEC championship was at stake. Manning led Ole Miss within three points of the lead with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Jacobs early in the fourth quarter, but a missed field goal on the ensuing drive. A fourth-down sack with less than two minutes remaining ended the rally. LSU went on to win 17-14 and two months later won a national championship.
Dec. 11, 2003: The hardware
Manning finished 2003 with 3,600 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Oklahoma’s Jason White and Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald.
He won the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s top player, and the Unitas Award as the country’s top senior quarterback.
Jan. 2, 2004: The best for last
Manning threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns, leading Ole Miss to a 31-28 Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State. The win was Ole Miss’ first victory in the Cotton Bowl since 1956 and second alltime. It meant Ole Miss finished a season with 10 wins for the first time since 1971.
Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.