Andy Staples: 'I wouldn't be shocked if Ole Miss winds up in Atlanta'

With the college football spring practice portion of the off-season in the rearview mirror, now is as good of a time as any for fans to get caught up on where some of their favorite programs sit heading into the summer. That is why On3’s very own college football expert, Andy Staples, recently dropped by to have a conversation with the SEC’s Mouth of the South, Paul Finebaum, on The Paul Finebaum Show.

In terms of SEC teams looking to capture the conference title with its now expanded field, the usual suspects—Alabama, Georgia, and newcomer Texas—sit at the top of most individuals’ lists. However, there is a fourth team, and they’re not that much of a dark horse this year.  

The Ole Miss Rebels, on paper, have arguably just as substantial a case as any in terms of capturing the SEC title this season. During the duo’s conversation, Staples discussed the legitimacy of an Ole Miss march to Atlanta while simultaneously revealing what the 2024 season will be about for the Rebels and head coach Lane Kiffin.

“I think it’s just showing that you can live up to that hype. They’re one of the rare teams—they might be the only team we’ve seen in the transfer portal era that’s managed to get better on both lines of scrimmage through the transfer portal,” said Staples.

Staples brought receipts to back up his statement on the Rebels’ significant improvement courtesy of the transfer portal. Those looking to see everything that Kiffin has done this offseason can also have all that information at their fingertips by visiting On3’s Ole Miss Transfer Portal page.

“Princely Umanmielen was Florida’s best EDGE rusher last year; he now plays at Ole Miss. Walter Nolen very good defensive tackle from Texas A&M now plays at Ole Miss. Ole Miss got a couple of offensive linemen out of the transfer portal that are gonna push some returning starters or create competition. They’re going to have a deeper offensive line than they’ve had in years. They got Juice Wells out of the transfer portal. If he’s healthy at receiver, you put him opposite Tre Harris, and you got (Caden) Prieskorn at tight end, and you have this huge stable of backs; They should be able to move the ball on anyone. Everything is set up for them now, Paul. It’s a matter of paying it off.

While Ole Miss does have all the pieces in play to be an elite program in the SEC and all of college football this season, there are still some naysayers who scoff at that notion. Those oppositions tend to bring up the past and question whether or not Kiffin can overcome some of his ghosts from years prior. However, this season, the Rebels’ headman will have a good opportunity to Vanquish some of those demons.

“The knock on Lane is, ‘Well, he didn’t beat Nick Saban, and he hasn’t beaten Kirby Smart.’ He’s going to get a shot at Kirby Smart in the regular season [and] there’s a chance he could get a shot at Alabama or a shot at Texas in Atlanta if they have the season that they’re expecting to have.

“Look, I wouldn’t be shocked if Ole Miss winds up in Atlanta because they have the combination of the roster and schedule to make that happen.”

To wrap things up, Staples makes it clear that he likes the Rebels’ chances in 2024. The culmination of their talent, along with their schedule, puts Ole Miss and Kiffin in prime position to be crowned kings of the SEC by season’s end and earn a spot in this year’s College Football Playoff field.