Before Eli Manning was stunning the world with Super Bowl victories over Tom Brady, he was merely a kid attempting to make a name for himself. Well, even though he had that last name.
The baby of the royal family of quarterbacks, Eli, was born to football greatness. His father? Archie Manning, who used to be a Saints QB and straight-up legend at Ole Miss. His brother? Peyton Manning, Mr. “Omaha!” himself, and one of the all-time greats of the NFL.
Where Did Eli Manning Go to College?
But Eli? He was the quiet type. The more goofy one. And yes, the one who would go on to forge his own legacy, beginning in college. So, where did this cool-under-pressure quarterback hone his craft? Welcome to Oxford, Mississippi, and the Ole Miss Rebels.
Eli Manning decided to play college football at the University of Mississippi—his father Archie’s alma mater—in 2000. And let’s be real, there was some heavy pressure.
Think about arriving on campus, and your dad’s face is literally plastered on the walls. But Eli didn’t blink. He took center stage and showed the world he wasn’t “Archie’s kid” or “Peyton’s little brother.
Eli quarterbacked the Ole Miss Rebels from 2000 to 2003 and essentially rewrote the record books in the process. His senior year, 2003, was spectacular—3,600+ yards and 29 touchdowns passing.
He took the Rebels to a 10-3 mark and a Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma State. And he collected the Maxwell Award (college football’s best player), the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and finished third in Heisman voting. Not bad for the “other Manning.”
And how good was he, exactly?
By the time he departed Ole Miss, he set 47 school records—career passing yards (10,119) and touchdown passes (81) among them. That is correct—Eli didn’t merely play at Ole Miss. He dominated it.
And don’t be fooled by the Southern hospitality and drowsy Ole Miss campus—Eli was more than a football mind. He was a student too. Eli had a marketing degree and a 3.44 GPA when he graduated.
All while dishing up touchdowns on Saturdays and keeping his nose clean off the gridiron. He even pledged the Sigma Nu fraternity and was awarded Ole Miss Athlete of the Year in 2001 and 2003.
It’s not often a guy fulfills the hype, but Eli did more than just live up to the expectations—he exceeded them. He brought poise, intelligence, and a calm demeanor to a team that required some oomph. And Ole Miss faithful lapped it up. You could not stroll through the Grove without seeing someone wearing a No. 10 jersey or sporting an “Eli 4 Heisman” pin.
After dominating the SEC, the Rebels’ star quarterback jumped to the 2004 NFL Draft. That’s when it got dramatic. He was taken first overall by the San Diego Chargers but would not play for them. Yeah, really.
A power play straight out of the Manning family playbook. He was traded to the New York Giants for Philip Rivers and some draft picks shortly thereafter.
Well, you might as well know the rest. Manning had a 16-year career in the NFL, won two Super Bowl rings, was the MVP of both, and staged two of the greatest playoff upsets against the juggernaut Patriots. That unshakeable calm? He developed that at Ole Miss.
In 2020, Ole Miss finally did it: They retired his No. 10 jersey, the same number Archie wore. In a capacity crowd, with Rebels’ fans cheering and the Manning family in attendance, Eli was immortalized in Oxford history.
Why Ole Miss Was the Perfect Fit
He could have gone anywhere—Tennessee, LSU, or your school. Yet, Manning went to Ole Miss. Not because it was convenient, but because it was something.
It was home. His daddy was a legend there, but Manning didn’t only inherit the legacy; he broadened it. He gave Ole Miss fans something to smile about again. He gave the program national viability.
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And truly, you have to appreciate how Eli pulled it all off with that cool, understated demeanor. No bombastic quotes. No melodramatic interviews. Just plain, steady brilliance.
Ole Miss was the ideal springboard for one of football’s greatest quarterbacking icons. And if you ever find yourself in Oxford, don’t be surprised if someone still raises a glass “to No. 10″—the Rebel turned Giant.
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