For Ole Miss, the first inter-mingling with one of the new SEC teams will be Oct. 6 in Oxford. Texas A&M visits then.

If you're looking for the first chance to end the SEC losing streak, in all likelihood 15 games by this date, A&M may provide that chance.

Prior to the last three games of 2011, the games after Houston Nutt's fate had been announced, the Rebels were competitive with SEC foes Auburn, for the better part of three quarters, and Arkansas and Kentucky till the end.

A&M produced highlights on both sides of the ball but was mediocre in its wins and losses, needing a bowl win over Northwestern to finish at 7-6.

The numbers added up to a coaching change, and Kevin Sumlin, formerly of Houston and a name that at least got some mention in the Ole Miss transition, is now in charge.

Expect a wide open offense, but studying other A&M video from 2011 will be of little help.

A couple of interesting coaching staff notes. The game will mark the return to Oxford of

Terry Price, the defensive line coach for Nutt's last two seasons. When Nutt's staff was replaced Price landed with Tommy Tuberville, with whom he'd coached previously at Auburn, but left for Texas A&M, his alma mater, when Sumlin was hired.

A&M's OC and quarterbacks coach is Kliff Kingsbury, formerly of Texas Teach, who Eli's Rebels played against in Lubbock in 2002, an Ole Miss loss.

Kingsbury will have to find a new Aggies starter. A&M must replace Ryan Tannehill, a first-round pick of the Dolphins.

The Aggies were efficient on offense and had some holes on defense though they did some nice things on that side of the ball as well.

Their front seven put enough pressure on people to lead the nation in sacks with 3.92 per game.

Six starters from that defense return including linebackers Sean Porter and Damontre Moore, their top two pass-rushing threats.

SI.com has projected Porter as a first-round pick.

The Aggies also ranked third in the nation in tackles for loss, a statistic in which Ole Miss fared well in the early Tyrone Nix years.

While they were difficult to run on (12th in rushing defense), they gave up passing yards (109th in pass defense) and points (70th in scoring defense).

And in the category that tells many tales, turnover margin, the Aggies were No. 106.

The Aggies were quite prolific on offense under Tannehill. The Aggies’ offense broke season school records for passing, total and scoring offense in 2011. A&M finished with 3,744 passing yards (old record of 3,661 in 2009) for an average of 291.1 per game (281.6 in 2009); 6,373 total yards (6,055 in 2009) and 490.2 (471.1 in 1990); and 508 points (427 in 2009) and 39.1 (36.7 in 1993).

Returning from that offense are tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews, like Porter, projected first-round picks.

Also back is WR Ryan Swope, who is within reach of the school record for receptions (233) and receiving yards (3,092).