I arrived to Ole Miss as a student in 2022, just a few months after the programs first national championship. Through these four years, I’ve seen some very difficult baseball, and some very good baseball. The thing that has remained a constant since that 2023 season to now, is the commitment from staff and players to get Ole Miss back to the pinnacle.
Photo: Sports Illustrated
After a frustrating 12-8 defeat to Troy Sunday to end the Rebels season shorter than expected, an ounce of emotion flawed through my heart. I’d grown to watch and become great friends with Will Furniss, who arrived to Oxford at the same time that I did. His journey and story is one of a kind, with the pressure of being the son of one of the all-time great players in college baseball history, this young man poured everything he had into the Ole Miss jersey.
Alongside Furniss in the press conference Sunday was pitcher Hunter Elliott. The true definition of resilience, who came back for one more year, to finish things the way he started, with a national championship. These two young man could not hold their emotions at the podium stand, and thats the cruel part about sports sometimes.
Not there was Judd Utermark, but his impact just like Elliott and Furniss will be cemented in the programs history. Utermark broke the programs all-time home run record in May, surpassing program legend Kyle Gordon. These young men took a chance at Ole Miss and Mike Bianco, and the program has moved in the right direction with this team, and it didn’t happen overnight.
In 2023 the team went 25-29, and 27-29 in 2024 and fans were calling for change via coaching and players. Throughout the losing seasons, Ole Miss saw players leave Liam Doyle and Andrew Fischer will be the names that standout most to Ole Miss fans.
Furniss, Elliott, and Utermark declared their loyalty to the program despite opportunities to play else where. 2025 brought a spark back to the program, and although neither season ended with the ultimate prize, this group of players have helped Ole Miss regain the respect and attention that they deserve.
“That doesn’t happen, they either get drafted or transferring. We are forever indebted to those guys, they made the program better.” – Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco on losing multiple seniors on his team
Though this season saw a lot of high and lows, the fanbase reconnected with the team, with more precise baseball, and innovated coaching changes, Ole Miss is back in the drivers seat as one of the best programs in the country. This season showed hope, as the team went 5-0 in the regionals and super regional games, the end of the season will leave a bitter taste in the mouth or players for all the right reasons.
“Two tough years of injuries, and not being good enough, the seniors hung together. Last year we got punched in the gut, couldn’t get out of our own regional, and this year we made it back to Omaha.”
- Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco on the determination of this team
With the offseason upon us, Ole Miss will need to have all hands on deck to reach Omaha again, but the blueprint is there. With this being said, Elliott could return or one more season as he was granted an extra year of eligibility from the NCAA. For now a big sting will be in the hearts of these players, but their impact will remain for years to come.
Here is a picture of me with the national championship before the start of the 2023 season. Best of luck to the Seniors in their future endeavors.