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Where Miami at Mississippi ranks among all 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge games

Miami will have an early-season test in the ACC/SEC challenge with an entirely new roster playing at Mississippi, which returns four players from its 2025-26 team.
ByAlan Rubenstein|
Nov 29, 2020; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; A general view of the ACC conference logo on the court prior to the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the North Florida Ospreys at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Nov 29, 2020; Coral Gables, Florida, USA; A general view of the ACC conference logo on the court prior to the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the North Florida Ospreys at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images | Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Miami at Mississippi is 11th among the "2025 ACC/SEC Challenge: Ranking all 16 matchups, predicting winners as Duke vs. Florida headlines slate" posted by David Cobb of CBS Sports recently. The game at Mississippi is a good early-season challenge for a completely new Miami roster.

Chris Beard is 44–24 in two seasons at Mississippi. The Rebels advanced to the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals for the second time in program history in 2025. New head coach Jai Lucas has rebuilt Miami with an entirely new roster entering the 2025-26 season.

The ACC/SEC Challenge is entering its third season. Miami lost at Kentucky in 2023 and versus Arkansas in 2024. Miami was 10-6 in the ACC/Big 10 challenge. The Hurricanes were 4-4 on the road in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge that ended in 2022.

The 2025 Miami transfer class is 21st and Mississippi is 26th in the 247Sports composite rankings. Miami will have a rotation made up of a majority of transfers in 2025-26. Lucas signed the 32nd best freshman class after starting from scratch when he was officially hired on March 10.

"11. Miami at Ole Miss
The addition of top-65 transfers Tre Donaldson (Michigan) and Malik Reneau (Indiana) gives first-year Miami coach Jai Lucas a strong baseline. But the 'Canes will also be deploying some freshmen in their rotation as they enter a hostile environment...Versatile forward Malik Dia is the only notable returner from the Rebels' Sweet 16 run. But Beard should have his crew in good enough condition to withstand an upstart ACC foe. Pick: Ole Miss"
David Cobb, CBS Sports

Donaldson helped lead Michigan to the Big 10 Tournament Championship and the NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal. Reneau averaged 13.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Indiana in 2024-25. Center Ernest Udeh and guard Tru Washington are other transfers expected to start for Miami in 2025-26.

Freshman small forward Shelton Henderson is expected to be the other starter for Miami in 2025-26. Freshman Dante Allen is expected to be in the 2025-26 Miami rotation. Combo guard Jordyn Kee and power forward Marcus Allen are the other transfers for Miami on the 2025-26 roster and expected to compete for playing time.

Miami is 3-1 all-time versus Mississippi. Miami won two games versus Mississippi in Coral Gables in 1949 and 2010 and lost in Oxford in 2011. Mississippi won 86-63 at Louisville in its only ACC/SEC Challenge appearance in 2024. The SEC has a 21-9 advantage in the challenge after going 14-2 versus the ACC in 2024.

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