An Eli Manning Ole Miss jersey usually gets tied to his records or to his father, Archie. A less told part of the story is how his college career ended: with a 31-28 win over Oklahoma State in the 68th Cotton Bowl Classic, a game that later earned him a place in the Cotton Bowl's own Hall of Fame.
The last college game
Manning's senior season ended in Dallas in January 2004. He threw two touchdown passes in the first half. Early in the fourth quarter he capped a 97-yard drive with a quarterback sneak that put Ole Miss ahead 31-14.
Oklahoma State came back to within three points. Manning answered with a 65-yard drive that used up the final 4:38 of the game, so the Cowboys never got the ball back. It was a fitting finish for a quarterback whose best skill was controlling a game.
What he left behind in Oxford
By the time he walked off the field, Manning had set or tied 47 Ole Miss records. He finished with a school-record 10,119 career passing yards and 81 career touchdown passes. As a senior he won the Maxwell Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and finished third in the Heisman voting.
The Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame
Nearly two decades later, the Cotton Bowl Classic picked Manning for its 13th Hall of Fame class, with the enshrinement held on May 11, 2023, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. By then his resume also included four Pro Bowls, two Super Bowl titles, two Super Bowl MVP awards and the 2020 Bart Starr Award.
Choosing an Eli Ole Miss No. 10
The Eli Manning Ole Miss jerseys currently listed include:
- Ole Miss Rebels No. 10 Eli Manning Red NCAA College Football Jersey - the classic red home look most fans associate with him.
- Eli Manning No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels Split Vapor Limited, All Stitched - a split-color stitched design for fans who want something less traditional.
Red is the natural first choice, especially for anyone who remembers watching him at Vaught-Hemingway. The split version works as a second jersey or as a display piece.
Who appreciates this jersey most
- Ole Miss fans who followed him from 2000 through that Cotton Bowl win.
- Giants fans who want the college chapter of a player they know from the NFL.
- Families with a Manning connection in their own fandom, since three Mannings shaped SEC football over two generations.
Fit and care
Check the size chart rather than going by T-shirt size, and size up if you plan to wear layers on cold fall nights in Oxford. Wash inside out on cold and air dry.
Both versions are available in this Eli Manning Ole Miss jersey collection, so you can compare the red and split looks.
The finish line
Eli's Ole Miss career ended the way he played: two first-half touchdown passes, a long scoring drive and a final possession that ran out the clock. A No. 10 Ole Miss Manning jersey remembers all of that, not just the records in the media guide.