2023 Record: 11-2 (6-2)
AP Ranking: 6
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin
Queue the Avengers entrance scene. That is the feeling in Oxford, knowing Jaxson Dart is leading the offense back out onto the field in 2024. They return every pass catcher and bring in Antwane Wells Jr. from South Carolina, who was the best receiving option in the portal. There’s going to be a party every Saturday in Oxford and it will not be fun for opposing defenses.
Lane Kiffin has to be the best personality in the SEC. He is the perfect mix of Saban’s poker face approach and Steve Spurrier’s antics with the media. He could have had any job in the country, including the Alabama gig, but he returns and locks in long term with the Rebels. The way he has this program directed, expect them to possibly take over the Alabama perennial power role.
Defense was the knock on this team a season ago. The positive for Ole Miss is all your problems can be solved through the portal. Walter Nolan(Texas A&M), Princely Umanmielen(Florida) and Chris Paul(Arkansas) sure up the front seven while Trey Amos(Alabama) and Isaiah Hamilton(Houston) solve their perimeter issues. This is a new look defense for the Rebels, but they successfully brought in proven replacements at each position of need.
Ole Miss will hold down the #2 spot behind Georgia from beginning to end this season. It does seem each year, they come up just short of their big burst onto the national scene. I think this is the year Kiffin gets a real shot at an SEC Championship.
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