Corporate sponsorship of college athletics is not new, but a special sponsorship for Mississippi’s biggest ballgame is.
Facebook has signed up as the presenting sponsor of the Egg Bowl.
That sponsorship comes with a branded logo for the game (see above) and branding under the script State logo on the 50-yard line (see below) for Friday’s contest at Davis Wade Stadium.
The Facebook branding will be on the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the 2026 Egg Bowl.
Friday’s announcement came six days after commercial branding made its debut on the Ole Miss football field with the Aflac logo for the Florida game.
Learfield, which made the Egg Bowl deal, did not say how much the social media giant paid the schools for the right to display its logo or how long the sponsorship will last.
Many expected to find out Lane Kiffin’s football coaching future Friday after a meeting with top Ole Miss officials. We at least know what the future apparently holds through the end of next week.
So the white hot speculation in the days leading up to that meeting will not subside just yet, especially since two other Southeastern Conference schools still want Kiffin as their coach and are willing to wait for his answer. Yahoo Sports reported Friday night LSU is looking to make an offer that may include a contract worth at least $90 million and a big money investment in NIL. That report comes after a Thursday meeting between representatives of Kiffin and Florida, according to 247 Sports. Former Mississippi State and current Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin reportedly took part in that meeting.
Also not likely to subside is the grumbling by some fans that Ole Miss is even in such an awkward position in the first place.
Meanwhile, the 10-1 Rebels not only have the Egg Bowl ahead but a likely appearance in the College Football Playoff, which could include an opening round game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
As for AD Keith Carter, he has two challenges to address if Kiffin departs for Baton Rouge, Gainesville or elsewhere:
Choose an interim coach
Choose a permanent replacement
The second challenge would likely be the tougher task since Ole Miss would not be the only school looking for a football coach from the same group of candidates — a group that becomes smaller if Arkansas, Auburn and the Florida/LSU loser make hires before the CFP first round December 19 or 20.
Then again, Carter could find his new coach in Oxford if the interim coach can guide the Rebels to a successful postseason run.
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