Texas-Ole Miss Marks Chris Beard's First Game Back in Austin

Former Texas coach Chris Beard leads Ole Miss against his former team in SEC matchup

Feb. 6, 2026 at 11:15pm

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Texas will host Ole Miss on Saturday, marking the first time Chris Beard will return to Austin as the head coach of the Rebels. Beard was fired from his position as Texas' head coach in January 2023 after a domestic violence charge. Texas has won two straight and three of its last four games, while Ole Miss has dropped four in a row. The Longhorns are led by Dailyn Swain, Tramon Mark, and Camden Heide, while the Rebels are paced by Patton Pinkins, AJ Storr, and Ilias Kamardine.

Why it matters

This game carries extra significance as it will be Chris Beard's first time back in Austin since being fired from the Texas job last year. Beard's tenure at Texas ended abruptly after a domestic violence charge, and his return is sure to be an emotional one for the former Longhorns coach and the Texas fanbase.

The details

Texas has won two straight games and three of its last four, most recently an 84-75 victory over South Carolina. Dailyn Swain led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Tramon Mark added 18 points. Ole Miss, on the other hand, has dropped four consecutive games, including an 84-66 loss to Tennessee on Tuesday. Patton Pinkins and AJ Storr each scored 15 points in the defeat.

  • Texas and Ole Miss will face off on Saturday, February 11, 2026 in Austin, Texas.

The players

Chris Beard

The current head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, who was previously the head coach of the Texas Longhorns before being fired in January 2023 following a domestic violence charge.

Dailyn Swain

A key player for the Texas Longhorns, who led the team with 22 points and 10 rebounds in their recent win over South Carolina.

Patton Pinkins

A standout player for the Ole Miss Rebels, who scored 15 points in their recent loss to Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“It was great to see (Mark) step up and find his rhythm -- we're much more difficult to defend when he's scoring as well. And the other guy that's just really playing well right now is (Heide). His ability to shoot the ball, his 3-point shots when South Carolina went to the zone, broke the game open.”

— Sean Miller, Texas Head Coach (Field Level Media)

“All we ask for is a consistent whistle. The free-throw differential in (the Tennessee) game and the foul differential is just frustrating from a coaching standpoint and a playing standpoint. At some point as a coach, you have to fight for your players.”

— Chris Beard, Ole Miss Head Coach (Field Level Media)

What’s next

The outcome of this game will be closely watched, as it marks Chris Beard's first return to Austin since his dismissal from Texas. The Longhorns will look to continue their recent winning ways, while the Rebels will aim to end their four-game skid.

The takeaway

This matchup between Texas and Ole Miss carries significant emotional weight, as it pits the Longhorns against their former head coach Chris Beard. The game will be a test of both teams' resilience and ability to overcome the off-court drama surrounding Beard's return to Austin.