University of Mississippi sports teams, originally known as the "Mississippi Flood" , were re-named the Rebels in 1936 and compete in the twelve-member Southeastern Conference of the NCAA'sDivision I. The school's colors are cardinal red (PMS 186) and navy blue (PMS 281), purposely chosen to mirror the school colors of Harvard and Yale, respectively. With a long history in intercollegiate athletics (Ole Miss began football in 1890), the university competes in 18 men's and women's sports. Student-athletes, 630 in all, received all-conference academic honors from 1995–2004.

Although a campus committee has proposed the Rebel Black Bear as an on-field mascot for sporting events to replace Colonel Reb, the teams will retain the name Rebels.