Fall at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium brings tailgates, college football, and, apparently, surprise proposals. For Ole Miss fans, Saturday was more than just a 49-0 victory over the Citadel. It was also a heartwarming and memorable moment between former Rebels pole vaulter Drew O’Connor and his girlfriend, Madison Barnette. In front of thousands of cheering fans, the couple took center stage during a halftime commercial, and the day turned into a fairytale proposal. Even Lane Kiffin had to get in on the action.

Madison and Drew weren’t expecting to be in the news that day. Madison was prepared to hold the ball for what seemed like a typical promotional kick when O’Connor entered the field with the ball at his feet. But instead of kicking, Drew went down on one knee, took out a ring, and asked Madison to marry him. She said yes, and just like that, the stadium erupted. Then the HC joined to celebrate the moment.

Lane Kiffin placed his arm around the couple and grinned joyfully as he photo-bombed their engagement photos. “I actually said after on the headset, maybe they were mad actually… but someone said, no, no, no, this is Mississippi, they liked it,” Kiffin joked post-game.

The moment felt surreal. Fans cheered, cameras clicked, and the Rebels rolled to an easy win, 49-0.But beyond the cheers and cameras, there’s more to know about Drew and Madison, the duo who stole the show on Saturday.

Who is Drew O’Connor?

Drew O’Connor is a former Rebel pole vaulter with a tremendous record. Drew finished fourth in Ole Miss history in 2025 after clearing a career-best 5.40 meters (17-08.50) outdoors. He also scored spectacular points at the SEC Outdoor Championships. He also performed well indoors, setting a season-high 4.94m (16-02.50).

Drew had a strong career at Memphis before moving to Ole Miss, where he set a personal best of 5.30 meters (17-04.50) and was a two-time conference scorer.Beyond athletics, Drew is academically accomplished and a valedictorian in high school, holding a bachelor’s in accounting from Memphis and finished his master’s in taxation at Ole Miss in May 2025.

Who is Madison Barnette?

Madison Barnette may not have a college sports career like Drew but she became a part of one of the most talked-about moments of her life. She had no clue that Drew was about to pop the question to her in front of thousands of fans when she stood on the Vaught-Hemingway field with the football in her hand. It was a moment that perfectly combined college football spectacle and romance.

The proposal that stole the show

It was the third quarter of Ole Miss’s 49-0 win over The Citadel. Madison had the ball set up when Drew entered the field during a timeout for a promotional field goal competition. But rather than kicking, Drew took out a ring, knelt down, and proposed to Madison. Madison said yes and the stadium exploded with cheers.

And then Lane Kiffin, in classic Kiffin fashion, photobombed the engagement. “I didn’t know I’d be a part of that, but you know, things happen here in the ‘Sip,” he said with a grin. Kiffin admitted that he wasn’t aware of the proposal beforehand, “Maybe they were mad… maybe they were like, ‘Why’d you come here?’” But the crowd’s roar quickly reassured him. And someone with the headset added, “It’s Mississippi, they like that.”

“That was really cool… how the crowd cheered for them,” Kiffin said.But fans will forever cherish Drew and Madison’s moment because it was the perfect balance of romance and gameday excitement. Kiffin joined in for a celebratory hug as the pair posed for pictures, sealing what will probably go down as one of the most memorable gameday moments in Vaught-Hemingway history.