The 2026 College World Series in Omaha will be see a lot of first timers on the Ole Miss roster, and although the moment is special for all, no better fairy tale story can be written than the experience for first baseman Will Furniss.
In a moment that circles back three decades, now brings back fond memories for the senior and his family. Furniss the son of College Baseball Hall of Famer and LSU great Eddy Furniss.
in 1996, now Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco was an assistant coach on the LSU staff. Working closely with Eddy, the relationship lasted decades later as Will was in search to find a new home.
“Coach B is one of the main reasons I came to Oxford. Our family loved him at LSU and he has continued to be a great coach and mentor to me and my teammates.
To understand this moment is to understand the journey that it took to get here for Will Furniss. After committing to Ole Miss the year after the teams National Championship run in 2022, Ole Miss has experienced some difficult seasons prior to this year. The Rebels missed the post season in 2023 and 2024, and got knocked out of the regionals in 2025.
“It means the world to not only me, but also the other guys that have worked so hard to get here. We’ve been working for this moment the entire year, and now that we’re here, it’s been a dream come true. “
The relationship between father and son is like no other, and Will credits his success to his father and family, and has been given words of encouragement from his father, about the experience of the College World Series.
“He just said to be yourself, and enjoy your time here whether it be a national championship or not. Not many people get to play here, and when they do they try to be extraordinary and be more than they were before they got here. Just be true to yourself and play your game that got you here in the first place.”
Furniss and Ole Miss have sliced through the post season going undefeated on their way back to Omaha, despite losing game one of the College World Series to North Carolina 6-2. The loss to the Tar Heels sparked different emotions throughout the team, but for Furniss, it was a learning moment.
“We have a tough road ahead, but we just won five in a row to get here. Now, with our backs against the wall, we can win four more to get into that final championship series.”
Ole Miss has embraced the mentality of resilience around the locker room, and with Bianco at the helm, and a lot of veterans, the time to seize the moment has been earned not given.
“These guys have worked extremely hard for this team, and we’re very close with each other. Coach B always says that you only get one season with this team, and this one of the teams that you really wish you got more than just one season with.”
Ole Miss will take on Troy Sunday, June 13 at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN.