Georgia² at Ole Miss¹² 2026: Away Weekend Guide

The Dawgs hit the road for one of the biggest trips of the fall. Georgia plays Ole Miss on Saturday, Nov 7, 2026 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. This guide covers the drive or flight from Athens and Atlanta, where to stay in Oxford, how the Grove works, where visiting fans gather, and where to watch back home if you are staying in Athens.

This post contains affiliate links.

Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET (6:30 PM Central, Oxford time) on ABC. Set by the SEC and confirmed by georgiadogs.com and Ole Miss Athletics on Oct 26.

Game at a Glance

• Matchup: Georgia² at Ole Miss¹²
• Date: Saturday, Nov 7, 2026
• Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM CT
• TV: ABC
• Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss.
• Time zone: Oxford runs on Central Time, one hour behind Athens. Double-check every reservation time.

This is the fourth straight regular season that Georgia and Ole Miss have met. Georgia beat the Rebels 43-35 in Athens on Oct 18, 2025, and Ole Miss won the Sugar Bowl rematch 39-34 in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Jan 1, 2026. So yes, the Dawgs have some unfinished business in Oxford. Georgia comes in off a 27-8 win over Florida in Atlanta on Oct 31 (see our Georgia³ vs Florida¹⁷ guide).

Getting There from Athens and Atlanta

Oxford is a long haul from Athens, so plan the trip like a real road weekend, not a day trip. Most Dawgs fans either drive the whole way or fly into a nearby airport and rent a car.

Driving

From Athens, the usual route heads west through Atlanta and on through Alabama into north Mississippi. Plan for most of a day behind the wheel, and check a live map app before you leave, because Atlanta traffic can add a lot of time on a Friday afternoon. Leaving from Atlanta cuts out the first leg.

• Leave Friday if you can. A 6:30 PM Central kickoff means a long Saturday either way, and the Grove is best enjoyed with a full day.
• Remember the time change. You gain an hour heading west and lose it coming home.
• Fuel up and grab snacks before the last stretch into Oxford. Game-day roads around town get crowded.

Flying

Oxford has a small local airport (University-Oxford Airport), but most fans flying in use a bigger airport and drive the rest of the way. According to the hotels in town, Tupelo Regional Airport is about 50 miles from Oxford and Memphis International Airport is about 77 miles. From Atlanta, compare flights into Memphis and Tupelo, then add the drive and a rental car to your plan.

Tip: book the rental car as soon as you book the flight. Game weekends can drain the rental lots.

Where to Stay in Oxford

Oxford is a small town on a big game weekend. Visit Oxford, the city’s tourism office, says to book high-demand football weekends 4 to 6 months ahead and to call hotels directly about minimum stays. If you have not booked yet, move fast and be ready to look a bit outside town.

On or Near The Square

• Graduate by Hilton Oxford (400 N Lamar Blvd): right on The Square, with a terrace bar. Hilton lists it about 0.8 miles from campus and 1.3 miles from the stadium.
• The Oliver Hotel (425 S Lamar Blvd): a boutique hotel overlooking The Square, with a parking garage.
• Courtyard by Marriott Oxford (305 Jackson Ave E): within walking distance of campus and The Square, with a rooftop tavern.

On Campus

• The Inn at Ole Miss (120 Alumni Dr): the hotel right on the Ole Miss campus, with complimentary breakfast and a nightly shuttle to downtown.

Around Town

Visit Oxford also lists brand hotels such as Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Home2 Suites and La Quinta. These are often a short drive from campus, so plan on a shuttle, rideshare or a walk on game day. Whatever you book, check the cancellation policy and parking before you pay.

The Grove and Where Visiting Fans Gather

The Grove is the heart of Ole Miss tailgating, a shady lawn full of tents, chandeliers and Sunday-best outfits. Even if you are not a Rebel, walking the Grove is a bucket-list college football moment. Be a good guest, keep it friendly, and the hosts tend to return the favor.

How Grove Setup Works

Ole Miss runs a set Friday timeline. Per Ole Miss Athletics and Visit Oxford:

• Registered student groups set up their tents from 2 to 3 PM Friday.
• Paid tent vendors set up their customers’ tents from 3 to 4:30 PM Friday.
• The Grove closes at 5:30 PM Friday.
• At 6 PM Friday it opens to the public for the free personal-tent “land grab.” An area in the eastern part of the Grove is held for fans who set up their own tents.
• Vendors charge for full-service setups, so if you want a tent waiting for you, book through a registered Grove vendor.

Visiting fan tip: if you do not have a tent group, just walk through the Grove and the Circle. You do not need a tent to enjoy the scene.

Game-Day Timeline in Oxford

Visit Oxford publishes this Saturday timeline, counted back from kickoff (6:30 PM Central for this game):

• 4 hours before: Sorority Row and University Avenue close to public vehicles.
• 2 hours before: the Walk of Champions starts, when the Rebels walk through the Grove.
• 90 minutes before: the Grove show starts.
• 20 minutes after kickoff: Sorority Row and University Avenue reopen.

Visit Oxford’s tips for the Grove are simple: drink water, pick a meeting spot in case your phone has no signal, use a cooler instead of carrying a 12-pack, and pour drinks into a cup. For every rule and the official vendor list, check OleMissGameday.com.

Getting Around on Game Day

Ole Miss Athletics offers off-campus shuttles from select lots, reserved through the CLUTCH app. The City of Oxford’s O.U.T. buses run free on game days, according to Visit Oxford. Parking near campus is tight, so park once and ride or walk.

The Square

Oxford’s historic downtown Square is the other big gathering spot, packed with restaurants, bars and shops, including Square Books and Neilson’s, which bills itself as the South’s oldest department store. Expect a lot of red and black on The Square the night before the game. Make dinner reservations early.

Where to Watch in Athens

No ticket, or not up for the drive? Athens is a great place to catch a night game with a crowd. Kickoff is 7:30 PM ET on ABC. A few places from our Where to Watch the Dawgs guide:

• Paloma Park: beer garden with Athens’ biggest outdoor screen.
• Georgia Theatre Rooftop (215 N Lumpkin St): game night above downtown.
• Athentic Brewing Co. (108 Park Ave): hosts Dawgs watch parties.
• Akademia Brewing (150 Crane Dr): brewpub with TVs and full food service.
• Live Wire: family-friendly, so bring the kids.

Also see our best Athens bars to watch the Dawgs and game-day eats in downtown Athens. Night games mean chilly beer gardens in November, so bring a layer.

Packing List for Oxford

• Your ticket, ID and the hotel confirmation
• A clear bag if you are going into the stadium (check Ole Miss’s current bag policy before you go)
• A jacket for the night game, since November evenings get cold
• Phone charger and a power bank
• Comfortable shoes for walking the Grove and The Square
• Cash and a card
• Your best red and black

Road Trip and Travel Picks

A few things that make the long trip to Oxford easier, whether you drive or fly:

• Road trip games for kids: Travel bingo, card games and car activity packs to make the long drive across Alabama go faster.
• Georgia Bulldogs travel pillow: For the flight into Memphis or Tupelo, or the passenger seat. Look for the Officially Licensed Collegiate Product tag.
• Georgia Bulldogs stadium blanket: November night game in Oxford, so it will be chilly in the stands and the Grove.
• Georgia Bulldogs clear stadium bag: Check Ole Miss’s current bag policy before you go.
• Portable power bank: Phones die fast in a packed stadium.
• Georgia Bulldogs car flag: Fly it on the drive west so other Dawgs fans spot you.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Quick Planning Checklist

• Book your hotel now, and call about minimum stays.
• Plan to arrive Friday.
• Save the time change in your head: everything in Oxford is Central Time.
• Reserve a shuttle spot on CLUTCH if you want to park off campus.
• Pick a meeting spot with your group.
• Plan your ride home. It will be late.

Headed to the next one? See all our game weekend guides, check the Scoreboard after the game, and browse the Athens City Guide for home weekends.

Featured Dawgs Gear

See all our Dawgs gear picks

Independent fan site, not affiliated with the University of Georgia.