Peyton Manning, Son Take in Tennessee Baseball's Game vs. Ole Miss

Tennessee football legend Peyton Manning and his son Marshall were in attendance for the Vols' opening game against the Rebels.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:08pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a variety of bright colors, capturing the energy and movement of the sport.The Manning family's presence at the Tennessee-Ole Miss baseball game adds an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup between the two storied programs.Knoxville Today

Tennessee football legend Peyton Manning and his son Marshall were in attendance at Lindsey Nelson Stadium on Friday night to watch the Volunteers baseball team take on Ole Miss. The Rebels defeated the Vols 7-4 in the series opener, with Peyton's father Archie and brother Eli both having played for Ole Miss in the past.

Why it matters

The Manning family's presence at the Tennessee-Ole Miss baseball game highlights the deep connections between the two programs and the Manning football legacy. Peyton Manning is one of the most celebrated athletes in Tennessee history, while his father Archie and brother Eli both starred for the Rebels, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup.

The details

Peyton Manning, who played at Tennessee from 1994-97 before being selected No. 1 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft, was joined by his son Marshall, a quarterback recruit in the 2030 class who recently transferred to Baylor School. The Vols struck first with a run in the bottom of the first, but Ole Miss starter Landon Mack settled in to allow six earned runs over 5.1 innings. Tennessee got home runs from Reese Chapman and Jay Abernathy, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rebels' offensive outburst.

  • The game took place on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • Game two of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18, 2026, airing on SEC Network+.
  • Game three is slated for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 19, 2026, on SEC Network+

The players

Peyton Manning

A Tennessee football legend who played for the Volunteers from 1994-97 before being selected No. 1 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He went on to win a pair of Super Bowls in a Hall of Fame career.

Marshall Manning

Peyton Manning's son, who recently transferred to Baylor School and is a quarterback recruit in the 2030 class.

Archie Manning

Peyton Manning's father, who had a legendary career playing quarterback for Ole Miss from 1968-70.

Eli Manning

Peyton Manning's brother, who also starred as a quarterback for Ole Miss.

Landon Mack

The Ole Miss starting pitcher, who allowed six earned runs over 5.1 innings.

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What they’re saying

“Peyton Manning with his son at LNS for Tennessee-Ole Miss tonight.”

— Emilie Rae Cochrane

What’s next

Game two of the series is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 18, 2026, airing on SEC Network+. Game three on Sunday is slated for 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.

The takeaway

The presence of Peyton Manning and his son Marshall at the Tennessee-Ole Miss baseball game highlights the deep connections between the two programs and the Manning family's enduring legacy in college football. While the Rebels came away with the victory, the matchup provided a unique opportunity for fans to witness the intersection of two storied athletic traditions.