Ole Miss has disputed some of the findings and pointed to its cooperation as well as other mitigating factors in its defense against the NCAA's most recent notice of allegations as delivered to the athletic department. 

Chiefly, the university "contests the allegations concerning institutional control and head coach responsibility."  Both are Level I violations, the most serious under the NCAA's violations structure. 

"The University has consistently satisfied each of the four pillars of institutional control: (1) 'adequate compliance measures exist'; (2) 'they are appropriately conveyed to those who need to be aware of them'; (3) 'they are monitored to ensure that such measures are being followed'; and (4) 'on learning of a violation, the institution takes swift action.'" 

Ole Miss also went all-in with its coach, noting that "after careful analysis of the testimony and supporting records, the University has concluded that head football coach Hugh Freeze has met it and membership's expectations to emphasize and promote compliance and to implement strong and comprehensive monitoring." 

The university was less kind, however, to former staffer Barney Farrar. Per the school's findings, Farrar committed "significant violations" and "intentionally hid this misconduct from the University's compliance staff and his head coach, and used multiple intermediaries in his scheme." 

The full response from Ole Miss, including the documents themselves, can be found here. 

The Rebels have already self-imposed a postseason ban for the 2017 season as a result of the 21 charges against the football program, including multiple recruiting violations, cash payments for student-athletes and a violation of head coach responsibility legislation aimed at Freeze. 

The self-imposed bowl ban, which will also include the school forfeiting approximately $7.8 million in SEC postseason revenue, comes on top of Ole Miss previously self-imposing an 11-scholarship reduction in football (one from 2015, two from 2016 and four from 2017 and 2018 incoming classes), suspending two assistants from recruiting, accepting a $159,352 fine, and putting its staff through additional NCAA rules training.

The postseason ban is the first for an SEC football program since Mississippi State in 2004.

The NCAA updated its original 2016 notice in February, adding additional allegations. While Ole Miss addressed its defense in prepared public statements, this official response moves the legislative process on to the next step: a hearing before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis. 

"Because an institutional control charge was not included in the 2016 Notice based upon substantially similar facts, it appears this charge rests on the increased number of allegations, which has never been -- and should not be -- this Committee's focus," Tuesday's release read. 

In his February statement, Freeze spoke out against the idea that he lacks institutional control of his own program.

"From the moment I arrived in December 2011, I have emphasized to all of my staff that our program is founded on certain core values -- faith, attitude, mental toughness, integrity and love," Freeze said in the video. "Integrity -- doing things the right way. I am extremely disappointed to learn that any member of my staff violated any SEC or NCAA rules, and as the head coach, I regret those actions.  

"Any behavior by my staff that is inconsistent with that commitment to do things the right way simply does not reflect the emphasis I personally place on NCAA compliance. As the record will show, I am constantly communicating to our compliance office, the SEC office and industry leaders to make sure we are using best practices when it comes to doing things the right way. Contrary to the allegations, I have demonstrated throughout this entire process that I have a strong record of promoting compliance and monitoring my staff, and I look forward to presenting that evidence to the Committee on Infractions."

Freeze has been at Ole Miss since 2012. His teams have gone 39-25 in five seasons and played in two New Year's Six bowls. His 2013 recruiting class included four five-star commitments and was No. 8 nationally, per the 247Sports Composite team rankings.