The University of Mississippi is preparing for another showdown with the University of Georgia, and this time, Rebel fans don't have to wait until kickoff to help secure a victory.
From Nov. 2 to 7, Ole Miss and Georgia will compete in Beat Week, a six-day fundraising challenge to determine which university can generate the most charitable gifts before the Rebels and Bulldogs meet on the gridiron Saturday (Nov. 7).
Having defeated Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in January, Ole Miss is looking to achieve at least two victories against the Bulldogs in 2026 — one on the field and another through the generosity of Rebel Nation.
“This is one of my favorite initiatives, because every single Rebel can make a difference,” said Maura Langhart, senior director of annual giving. “We know our fans will show up for the football game, but we’re asking them to show up for our students, too.”
The rules are simple: Every charitable gift of $5 or more to any area of the university counts as one point toward victory. The competition is based on the number of gifts, not the total dollars raised or the number of donors.
That means a $5 gift counts just as much as a $5,000 gift on the Beat Week scoreboard.
“You don’t have to make a large gift to make a big impact,” Langhart said. “You just have to participate.”
It’s no secret that Georgia has a larger alumni base than Ole Miss, giving the Bulldogs a distinct advantage in a competition decided by the number of gifts. But the Rebels have a strategy to level the playing field: Ole Miss is encouraging every member of Rebel Nation to make three gifts to three things they love about the university, turning every supporter into a triple threat on the Beat Week scoreboard.
For example, an alumnus might make a $5 or more gift to their school or college, another $5 or more gift to a student scholarship and a third $5 or more gift to support the Pride of the South Marching Band.
For a minimum of $15, that donor can put three points on the scoreboard for Ole Miss while making an impact in three meaningful ways.
“We want everyone to envision three things they love about Ole Miss and make a gift to each one,” Langhart said. “Maybe it’s the school where you earned your degree, a scholarship that helps students afford college or a program that makes the Ole Miss experience special.
“Three gifts mean three points for the Rebels, and when thousands of us make those gifts together, we can make a tremendous difference.”
Gifts can support any university school, college, department, scholarship, student organization, academic program or other charitable fund. All qualifying gifts count toward the competition.
Throughout the week, supporters can follow the competition at https://beat-week.com/, where a live scoreboard will display each university’s progress.
The fundraising challenge begins at 8 a.m. Monday (Nov. 2) and continues through 11:59 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 7).
To participate, click here, select Ole Miss and make a gift of $5 or more. Share the competition with friends and family and help spread the word on social media throughout Beat Week.
From Staff Reports/UM Development