Ole Miss entered the NCAA Tournament believing it had the talent to make a run.
Now, after sweeping the Lincoln Regional and advancing to a Super Regional, even former Rebel offensive lineman and NFL veteran Bradley Sowell admits the feeling is becoming familiar.
“There’s just something about this team now,” Sowell said on Talk of Champions. “They’re starting to give me some 2022 vibes.”
For Ole Miss fans, those words carry weight. The 2022 Rebels caught fire late, stormed through the postseason and ultimately won the program’s first national championship. Three years later, another team appears to be getting hot at exactly the right time.
The Regional Sweep Was No Fluke
Ole Miss didn’t simply survive the Lincoln Regional, the Rebels dominated it. Ole Miss went 3-0, defeating Arizona State twice and Nebraska once while overcoming weather delays, late-night finishes and hostile road environments. The path wasn’t always pretty.
The Rebels battled traffic on the bases, escaped jams on the mound and needed several clutch hits in key moments, but that’s exactly why Sowell came away so impressed.
“We found a way to win in other ways,” Sowell said. “That shows that we’re developing and getting hot at the right time as a team.”
Owen Paino’s Emergence
One player stood out to Sowell more than anyone else, shortstop Owen Paino.
Paino’s offensive breakthrough has been one of the biggest storylines of the second half of the season, but Sowell pointed to his defensive performance in Lincoln as equally important. The sophomore made several highlight-reel plays, including a diving stop against Arizona State that likely saved a run during a critical stretch of the game.
“We told everybody that if Owen figured it out, it changes this team completely,” Sowell said.
Paino’s confidence, Sowell added, is now visible every time he takes the field, and that confidence is spreading throughout the lineup.
Timely Hitting Has Arrived
Ole Miss spent much of the season searching for consistency at the plate, and in Lincoln, the Rebels found it.
Brayden Randle continued his emergence as one of the team’s most reliable clutch hitters. Hayden Federico delivered big swings. Austin Fawley produced one of the weekend’s biggest doubles, and Paino came through with one of the most important hits of the regional against Nebraska.
Sowell repeatedly returned to one theme: timely hitting wins in June.
“How you win is pitching the ball well and getting timely hits when it matters,” Sowell said. “And that’s just what we did.”
Why This Team Might Be Better Positioned Than 2022
The comparisons to the national championship team are inevitable, but Ben Garrett made an interesting point during the conversation. This year’s team may actually be better positioned entering June than the 2022 squad was at the same stage.
The Rebels are not sneaking into the postseason. They’re not hoping to get hot. They’re already playing some of their best baseball. Ole Miss navigated one of the nation’s toughest schedules, earned a No. 2 seed in the Lincoln Regional and now has pitching depth few teams remaining in the field can match.
“The arms have always been there,” Sowell said. “Our bullpen is ridiculous.”
That depth becomes even more valuable as the postseason continues.
Nobody Wants to Face Ole Miss Right Now
Across the country, regional hosts have fallen. National seeds have been eliminated. Chaos has defined the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend. Meanwhile, Ole Miss simply kept winning. The Rebels advanced while programs like Auburn suddenly found themselves fighting for survival on their own home field. When asked to assess Ole Miss’ championship chances, Sowell didn’t hesitate.
“The run can happen,” he said. “I’m optimistic.”
And judging by the way the Rebels are pitching, defending and delivering in big moments, there may not be many teams left in the country eager to see Ole Miss show up in their bracket.
Confidence Is Growing
The biggest takeaway from Lincoln wasn’t necessarily the sweep itself. It was the belief. Inside the clubhouse, players expected to win the regional. Outside the clubhouse, fans are beginning to believe this team could be special.
