Ole Miss adds Washington State to 2025 schedule after Wake Forest drama

Ole Miss will host Washington State next season. The Cougars will replace them Wake Forest Demon Deaconswho canceled their showdown against the Rebels in September 2025.

Ole Miss and Wake Forest had a home-and-home agreement. The Rebels lived up to their end of the bargain by visiting Wake Forest this season and defeating the Demon Deacons 40-6 in Week 3. However, Wake Forest informed Ole Miss ahead of the game that they would not be visiting Oxford in 2025.

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin expressed his frustration openly.

“Really, a very unusual thing for Wake (Forest).” Kiffin said. “You don’t normally do that the season before. It is difficult. There are no people to play with. That's why you plan ahead, make deals, go and play there, and they come back.

“I would just say it’s rarely done. I've never really heard of it and it really puts us at a huge disadvantage. And it is what it is. Obviously putting him in that situation wasn't very appreciated. And now we have to find someone and most of the people are all scheduled. And even if you find them, you have to pay for them. So it’s kind of an unwritten rule not to actually do that.”

It is common for programs to prepare their non-conference schedules over a year in advance. With every team eliminating quality future opponents as quickly as possible, few programs had openings on their roster so close to next season.

Nonetheless, Ole Miss found a good opponent in Washington State. The Cougars are 4-1 this season, with their only loss coming against No. 25 Boise State. While Kiffin is undoubtedly happy to find an opponent to replace Wake Forest next season, he probably won't forget the Demon Deacons' decision any time soon.

“I think it's really amazing that you wait until game week to tell the team,” Kiffin said. “I mean, if they thought they were going to bother us, and (Wake Forest athletic director) John Currie said, 'Oh, we're going to tell them the week and bother them.' So maybe that was their game plan.”