For the seventh time in program history, Ole Miss is headed back to Omaha.
The Rebels completed a stunning postseason run Saturday afternoon, defeating Auburn 5-3 at Plainsman Park to sweep the Auburn Super Regional and punch their ticket to the 2026 College World Series. What began as a team fighting for postseason positioning in May has now become one of the hottest teams in college baseball, reaching Omaha after going undefeated through both the Lincoln Regional and Auburn Super Regional.
As the final out settled into a glove and the dogpile formed on the mound, Ole Miss players, coaches and fans celebrated another historic chapter under head coach Mike Bianco.
Taylor Rabe Sets the Tone Again
Ole Miss needed a big performance from Taylor Rabe, and he delivered. The right-hander continued his dominant postseason run, working seven innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out eight Auburn hitters. It marked his fourth consecutive outing with at least eight strikeouts, the longest such streak by an Ole Miss pitcher in more than a decade.
Rabe’s emergence has become one of the defining stories of the Rebels’ season. After beginning the year as a bullpen weapon, he developed into one of the SEC’s most reliable starters and once again gave Ole Miss exactly what it needed on the biggest stage.
When Auburn threatened to seize momentum throughout the afternoon, Rabe consistently answered.
Will Furniss Delivers His Moment
No swing was bigger than the one from Will Furniss.
The Ole Miss first baseman entered the game in the midst of a difficult postseason stretch at the plate. Then he changed everything with one swing.
Furniss launched a go-ahead two-run home run that completely shifted the game and energized the Rebel dugout. The blast gave Ole Miss the lead for good and served as one of the defining moments of the Super Regional.
After battling through an 0-for-8 stretch, Furniss came through when Ole Miss needed him most.
Moments later, Tristan Bissetta followed with another home run, giving the Rebels critical insurance runs and silencing a crowd that had spent much of the afternoon waiting for Auburn to make a run.
Hayden Federico Saves the Season
Every postseason run has a play that fans remember forever. Ole Miss may have found its play in the eighth inning. With Auburn threatening and momentum beginning to swing, Hayden Federico made a spectacular recovery catch in center field after initially breaking in on a deep fly ball. The diving grab likely saved multiple runs and preserved the Rebels’ lead.
The play immediately became one of the most important defensive moments of the season. Had the ball fallen, Auburn was positioned to take control of the game.
Instead, Federico turned a potential disaster into an out and kept Ole Miss on course for Omaha.
Bullpen Slams the Door
As they have throughout the postseason, Ole Miss’ bullpen delivered when called upon. JP Robertson earned the victory, while Walker Hooks recorded the save for the second consecutive game.
Hooks faced pressure late as Auburn brought the tying run to the plate, but the hard-throwing right-hander once again found a way to finish the job. The bullpen’s consistency has become a major reason the Rebels remain unbeaten in NCAA Tournament play.
A Team Built for June
Ole Miss entered the postseason disappointed it failed to earn a regional host site. That disappointment has become motivation. The Rebels are now 5-0 in NCAA Tournament play and have won every postseason game away from Oxford. They survived one of the nation’s toughest regular-season schedules, and players repeatedly pointed to that experience as preparation for moments like these.
Throughout the postseason, different heroes have emerged. Brayden Randle has become a postseason spark plug. Federico delivered a season-saving catch.
Robertson and Hooks have anchored the bullpen, and on Saturday, Furniss found his signature moment.
It’s a formula that looks remarkably familiar to anyone who watched Ole Miss’ magical 2022 national championship run.
Omaha Awaits
The Rebels now advance to the College World Series and will face the winner of the Chapel Hill Super Regional between North Carolina Tar Heels and USC Trojans.
For Bianco, it marks another trip to Omaha and further strengthens a legacy that already includes a national championship and multiple College World Series appearances.
For Ole Miss fans, it means another chance to dream.
A team that many believed was capable of making a deep postseason run all season long has now proven it on the field.
The Rebels are headed back to college baseball’s biggest stage, and they’re arriving in Omaha playing their best baseball of the year.
