The date, kickoff time, and television coverage has been set for the inaugural Music City Kickoff, which will features the Ole Miss Rebels taking on the Louisville Cardinals.
The Ole Miss-Louisville matchup, which was revealed in December, is scheduled for Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. The game will be televised nationally by ABC beginning at 7:30pm ET.
“We’re excited to partner with Ole Miss, ESPN and the Nashville Sports Council to bring this season-opening matchup to Nashville,” said University of Louisville Vice President and Director of Athletics Josh Heird. “This game presents a tremendous opportunity for our program, our student-athletes and our fans. Nashville is home to a strong and passionate Cardinals presence, and the chance to showcase Louisville Football in a premier venue against elite competition on a national stage is one we fully embrace.”
The 2026 matchup between Ole Miss and Louisville will mark the second meeting between the two schools in football. The two programs previously met in the 2021 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta, Ga., with the Rebels coming out with the victory, 43-24.
“This matchup was already a tremendous opportunity for our program, kicking off Coach Golding’s first full season at the helm against a high-caliber opponent like Louisville in a premier destination like Nashville,” said Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter. “Now, with the added spotlight of a Sunday prime-time national broadcast, the stage is even bigger. We’re confident Rebel alumni and fans throughout Music City will turn out in great numbers to create an electric atmosphere and be part of a memorable night.”
Ole Miss has been designated as the home team and will be on the west side of the stadium, while Louisville will serve as the visiting team and occupy the east sideline.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Ole Miss and Louisville to Nashville for the inaugural Labor Day weekend Music City Kickoff,” said Scott Ramsey, president and CEO of the Nashville Sports Council. “This nationally televised prime-time match-up between two outstanding programs is an exciting way to open their 2026 seasons. We’re grateful for our partnerships with ESPN Events and Nissan Stadium and look forward to delivering a first-class experience for student-athletes and fans alike.”
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P4 vs P4 OOC games belongs at neutral sites.
Your odd
Illininoles97 CFB Fans need equal.
Campus Stadiums can be a hassle for visiting Fans.
You are odd
Texas – Ohio State should be at a neutral site? Where should it be other than Columbus and Austin?
Oklahoma – Michigan shouldn’t be in the Big House?
All the SEC – ACC rivalry games should be at neutral sites instead of home-and-home?
Only time I do not mind home & home games for SEC-ACC is Thanksgiving weekend four:
Georgia-Georgia Tech
Kentucky-Louisville
Florida-Florida State
&
South Carolina-Clemson
Dan, just get over it. Enough, please.
Harry I do not want to criticize other fans unfortunately a lot of them are very unhappy that traditional rivalries like Notre Dame-USC, Oklahoma State-Oklahoma, Oregon-Oregon State, Missouri-Kansas & Georgia-Clemson are fading into quicksand & I am adapting very well to new world of college football & as a Michigan supporter I am giving USC a chance, Georgia supporter I am giving Oklahoma a chance, Oklahoma State supporter I am giving Arizona a chance & Syracuse supporter I am giving California a chance.
Really Dan, Syracuse and California? What the Stanford vs NC State don’t do it for you?
Illininoles97 Pardon me for using fan.
For the last time I am a fan of conference games no matter it’s highly rated like Michigan-Ohio State or underrated like Syracuse-California.
I enjoy them all thank you.