The 2024 college football season is just a few weeks away, and we're previewing each team in the SEC to get ready. We last looked at the Oklahoma Sooners. Next up are Mississippi State's heated rivals, the Ole Miss Rebels.
The Rebels are coming off a school-record 11-wins in 2023, and they have all the makings to be even better in 2024.
Examining the Ole Miss Rebels' offense
Scoring points has rarely been an issue for this program, and that's remained true under Lane Kiffin. Kiffin is one of the nation's best offensive minds, and his 2024 offense could be his best overall since coming to Oxford.
QB Jaxson Dart made big strides as a passer in '23 with 3,364 yards, 23 TDs, and just five INTs, adding another eight scores on the ground. His receiving corps is loaded this year with WR Tre Harris, WR Jordan Waktins, and TE Caden Prieskorn returning. Plus, former 1st Team All-SEC WR Juice Well transfers in from South Carolina.
Star RB Quinshon Judkins transferred out to Ohio State, but that's a move that may work out well for both sides. The Rebels added Miami's Henry Parrish and several other talented transfer RBs to a room that still returns the explosive Ulysses Bentley. The OL was up and down in '23, but three starters return and multiple high-level transfers were added so solidify things.
Examining the Ole Miss Rebels' defense
Unlike offense, defense had been a problem in Oxford for a while. But first-year DC Pete Golding did a fine job maximizing his talent, and the Rebels fielded their best defense in a decade (22.5 PPG). And while there are some big losses, the best pieces return, and they loaded up in the portal to take the next step.
Leading DL duo Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues return, and high-level talent joins the fold around them. Former #1 overall recruit Walter Nolen comes in from Texas A&M to serve as a game-wrecking nose, and Princely Umanmielene, Florida's best pass-rusher in '23, is added on the edge. Talented LB Khari Coleman is joined by Arkansas-transfer Chris Paul to round out one of the SEC's top defensive fronts.
The Rebels must replace both starting corners, but transfers Trey Amos and Isaiah Hamilton should step-in nicely. South Alabama-transfer Yam Banks was a strong addition at nickel, and safety duo Trey Washington and John Saunders combined for six picks last season.
Thoughts on the Ole Miss Rebels entering 2024
Expectations have never been this high for Ole Miss entering a season, at least not since the early-60s. The Rebels are coming off an 11-win season, return most of the best players from that team, added elite talent in the portal to address the losses they did have, and face a favorable schedule.
Their starting talent makes them a legitimate SEC title contender, and frankly, not making the playoff would be a massive letdown. With a light non-conference slate, five games against the SEC's bottom-half teams, Georgia coming to Oxford, and neither Texas nor Alabama on the schedule, the path could not be clearer to be a playoff team.
Now is there enough high-level depth behind those starters to do more than simply make the playoff? That's to be seen, but regardless, this team should be the best of the modern era in Oxford.