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In 2013, Army ROTC cadets from Ole Miss and Mississippi State University began a new tradition: the Egg Bowl Run.
Every year, cadets from each school work together to complete an 80-mile run between Oxford and Starkville to deliver the official game ball to the home stadium of the annual Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State football matchup.
The daunting run is no easy task, but every year cadets are eager to participate. This year, on Sunday, Nov. 24, at noon, Ole Miss cadets will meet Mississippi State cadets at the Egg Bowl Run's halfway point: Calhoun City's town square. Over the years, Rebel and Bulldog fans alike have come out in force in tiny Calhoun City to cheer on cadets from both schools. In years past, about 500 equally divided fans have hosted tailgate parties and lined the square for the run.
After some friendly jeering, Ole Miss will defeat Mississippi State in a tug-of-war match. Next, Ole Miss cadets will run with the Egg Bowl game ball approximately 40 miles back to the University of Mississippi, arriving at approximately 5 p.m. This year's Egg Bowl will be played in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Friday, Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving.
All this fanfare and camaraderie serves an important purpose. Cadets are running to encourage your support of their program. The Egg Bowl Run and the exclusive memorabilia you see on this page help cadets raise money for the Magnolia Battalion’s activities, training exercises, team-building opportunities and cadet competitions, preparing these future officers to excel in the Army and in life.
Our university’s Army ROTC Magnolia Battalion has consistently been ranked one of the best programs in the country. In fact, it was named the No. 2 ROTC program nationally out of 275 universities in recent years. Ole Miss Army ROTC regularly produces distinguished military graduates who are among the top 20% of their peers nationally. Several cadets have ranked among the top 25 of all cadets in the nation, and in 2016, one cadet ranked among the top 10.
Ole Miss cadets are involved in almost every club, Greek organization, honors society and student organization on campus, including athletics. They achieve academic excellence through the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, the Croft Institute for International Studies, the Intelligence and Security Studies Program, Gamma Beta Phi, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, study abroad, Project Go, Global Ambassadors and more.
The Ole Miss Army ROTC program is designed to instill professional leadership competencies that translate to success in both the military and the civilian world. Through this unsurpassed partnership with the university, we look to recruit, develop, retain and commission officers of the highest character, commitment and competence.
Help us continue that tradition of excellence. Make a gift today, and don’t forget to cheer on our cadets during the Egg Bowl Run!
Donate $9 to represent the nine Army Values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage, moral courage and physical courage. To show our appreciation, we'll publicly thank you on our University of Mississippi Army ROTC social media accounts.
Magnolia Battalion continues to lead the way as the premiere ROTC program in the state of Mississippi. Much of that success is owed to the unparalleled support of our alumni, friends and family. As our program continues to grow, the requirement for assistance also grows. We currently maintain 150 cadets in the program. This year, in conjunction with the Egg Bowl Run, we are asking 150 supporters to donate $25 each. If 150 supporters give just $25 each, we will reach $3,750, all of which will directly support our cadets. To show our appreciation for your generosity, we'll publicly thank you on our University of Mississippi Army ROTC social media accounts and send you a personalized note.
As of May 2023, nearly 2,000 officers have received their commissions through the Army ROTC program at Ole Miss. These officers have served continuously on active duty and in the Army Reserve and National Guard since 1938. They have fought honorably through six wars, including World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq. About 20 graduates have also attained the honor of becoming general officers (one star or higher). Give $60 to honor their service and claim your powder blue Army ROTC cap, with Ole Miss in stars and stripes.
Our Army ROTC cadets are well-rounded campus leaders. You can find them participating on Division 1 athletic programs, in the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, at the Croft Institute, leading Greek organizations, in various clubs and civic organizations and representing us in classrooms all over campus in many different degree paths. Give $60 to support these incredible cadets and received a navy Ole Miss ROTC cap, with Ole Miss in stars and stripes.
Of 275 Army ROTC programs in American colleges and universities, the program at the University of Mississippi has consistently been ranked one of the best. In fact, in 2016, the program was named No. 2 overall. You can honor that tradition of excellence among our peers with a $275 gift. In return, you'll enjoy a truly special experience by joining the Army ROTC Push-up and Cannon Crew on the sidelines of one of the first three home football games of the 2025 season. Help fire the cannon and do a set of push-ups when the Rebels score and score your own crew T-shirt. ONLY ONE spot on the push-up and cannon crew is available, so make your gift now!
Established during World War I, an Army Training Corps unit operated at Ole Miss from September 1918 to January 1919, helping students prepare to serve the nation as Army officers just as our current ROTC program does today. Ole Miss cadets participate in a program with 106 years of history. When you give $500 to commemorate that history, you'll get to field a two-person golf team at the third annual Army ROTC Golf Scramble held at the Mallard Pointe Golf Course and Villas on April 27, 2025. Only two prizes are available, so make your gift now! Also, this package includes two tickets to our Annual Spring Dining Out event, held the night before the golf scramble on April 26, 2025, at the University of Mississippi Ballroom on campus.