Get ready for the board to explode ESPN CFB Way To Early Poll

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

ESPN Poll

6. Ole Miss Rebels​

Previous ranking: 7

2023 record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC

Winter update: After guiding the Rebels to the first 11-win campaign in the 118-year history of the program, coach Lane Kiffin is gearing up for what could be an even bigger season in 2024. Unexpectedly losing Judkins to Ohio State hurt, but Kiffin grabbed plenty of talent out of the transfer portal, especially on defense. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), defensive end Princely Umanmielen(Florida) and linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (Arkansas) should help right away. Adding former Washington starters Julius Buelow and Nate Kalepo should improve the offensive line. The Rebels will play their two toughest opponents, Oklahoma and Georgia, at home.

 

[pseudonym]

I think they have a good chance to go 10-2, which is probably good enough to make the 12-team CFP.

But I don't think it is guaranteed. If their two losses are Georgia and LSU, they will not have a lot of quality wins based on who we think will have good seasons. Kentucky and Oklahoma at home could be their best wins. Will that be good enough for a spot in the CFP? How much better will 7-6 Kentucky be? How good will Oklahoma be with a new QB?

Since 2014, all but one 10-2 SEC team has been in the top 11 in the final CFP rankings. However, that was when the playoff was four teams. We don't know how the standard will change with a 12-team playoff. Picking the 12th-best team in the country will be a lot more scrutinized when it is for a playoff spot. Will they try to geographically distribute bids? Does that mean good SEC teams will be left out because they don't want to give one conference too many bids? We will learn a lot in year one.

If Ole Miss makes the CFP, maybe State fans will realize the 12-team CFP is attainable and supporting NIL to get there is worth it.

 

[57stratdawg]

They're going to be good. No reason to pretend otherwise.

 

[Dawgg]

They still won’t make it to Atlanta.

 

[patdog]

Mississippi showing us what’s possible if we ever get our heads out if our asses. But we’d rather whine, complain, and lose a lot.

 

[pseudonym]

The Rebels will play their two toughest opponents, Oklahoma and Georgia, at home.

Interesting that they rank LSU higher than Oklahoma in their own poll and then say Oklahoma is a tougher opponent.

Looking at LSU's schedule, they will be very focused on that Ole Miss game. We know they will be talented. They lost a close game in 2023. I think LSU gets them in Baton Rouge.

 

[theoriginalSALTYdog]

ESPN Poll

6. Ole Miss Rebels​

Previous ranking: 7

2023 record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC

Winter update: After guiding the Rebels to the first 11-win campaign in the 118-year history of the program, coach Lane Kiffin is gearing up for what could be an even bigger season in 2024. Unexpectedly losing Judkins to Ohio State hurt, but Kiffin grabbed plenty of talent out of the transfer portal, especially on defense. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), defensive end Princely Umanmielen(Florida) and linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (Arkansas) should help right away. Adding former Washington starters Julius Buelow and Nate Kalepo should improve the offensive line. The Rebels will play their two toughest opponents, Oklahoma and Georgia, at home.

Don't know why this would shock anyone considering what they have returning and their portal haul. They're going to lose two games at the most and will be in playoffs. They have the talent.

 

[columbiadawg2]

I mean they are going to be pretty good. I'd be more surprised if they weren't preseason top 10

 

[85Bears]

LSU loses their quarterback and has a bad defense. I don’t know that they will be that good. Probably about like this year.

 

[8dog]

Honestly they should be top 5.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

Ole Miss will win the West this year, lose in Atlanta, and win their first playoff game --- and maybe more.

It's gonna suck if you waste your time trying compare us to Ole Miss this year or the next few years.

Cold Hard Fact.

 

[kired]

They've gone all in. Anything less than the playoffs will be a failure.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

They've gone all in. Anything less than the playoffs will be a failure.

Absolutely true. We've got the excuse of not really trying hard enough --- by comparison.

 

[POTUS]

Ole Miss will win the West this year

I'll bet you a dollar they don't.

 

[GloryDawg]

I still think scheduling is going to be their downfall. Not all schedules are equal and with only 6 at large bid the committee is going to look at that closely before leaving a school like Ohio State out to put Ole Miss in. They are going to be more selective.

 

[85Bears]

I still think scheduling is going to be their downfall. Not all schedules are equal and with only 6 at large bid the committee is going to look at that closely before leaving a school like Ohio State out to put Ole Miss in. They are going to be more selective.

Ohio State should be in no problem, look for Michigan to drop off quite a bit.

 

[patdog]

I still think scheduling is going to be their downfall. Not all schedules are equal and with only 6 at large bid the committee is going to look at that closely before leaving a school like Ohio State out to put Ole Miss in. They are going to be more selective.

No 10-win SEC team is going to get left out. That's just not gonna happen.

 

[Dawgg]

Ole Miss will win the West this year,

Who wants to tell him?

 

[GloryDawg]

No 10-win SEC team is going to get left out. That's just not gonna happen.

I tend to think that too but on same token a 10 win Big 10 or ACC will not be left out. Something will have to give unfortunately there are only six spots. It will come down to scheduling. Not all schedules are equal. That is where Ole Miss will get hurt.

 

[patdog]

I tend to think that too but on same token a 10 win Big 10 or ACC will not be left out. Something will have to give unfortunately there are only six spots. It will come down to scheduling. Not all schedules are equal.

10-win ACC team could get left out. Louisville wouldn't have made it last year.

 

[thatsbaseball]

There are several things that might make me "explode" but this ain't one of them. They are definitely a top 10 team going into the season.

 

[GloryDawg]

10-win ACC team could get left out. Louisville wouldn't have made it last year.

Something else to think about. With 16 teams in the Big 10 and SEC, customary rules might change, and it is possible there are multiple 10-2 teams in both conferences. Ole Miss has a good shot at getting in but if it comes down to a 10-2 Texas and Bama, Ole Miss will be left out. Ole Miss doesn't play either of those schools and it is possible they are 10-2 or better.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

ESPN Poll

6. Ole Miss Rebels​

Previous ranking: 7

2023 record: 11-2, 6-2 SEC

Winter update: After guiding the Rebels to the first 11-win campaign in the 118-year history of the program, coach Lane Kiffin is gearing up for what could be an even bigger season in 2024. Unexpectedly losing Judkins to Ohio State hurt, but Kiffin grabbed plenty of talent out of the transfer portal, especially on defense. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), defensive end Princely Umanmielen(Florida) and linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (Arkansas) should help right away. Adding former Washington starters Julius Buelow and Nate Kalepo should improve the offensive line. The Rebels will play their two toughest opponents, Oklahoma and Georgia, at home.

Walter Nolen worries me. I don't know a thing about him, but he sounds like the name of an award. The Walter Nolen Award for best... whatever...

 

[patdog]

Something else to think about. With 16 teams in the Big 10 and SEC, customary rules might change, and it is possible there are multiple 10-2 teams in both conferences. Ole Miss has a good shot at getting in but if it comes down to a 10-2 Texas and Bama, Ole Miss will be left out. Ole Miss doesn't play either of those schools and it is possible they are 10-2 or better.

All 3 would get in if they all win 10 games.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

I meant it would blow the board up with posts. Not that Ole Miss is not good. The Ole Miss Plantation Owners, Doctors, and Lawyers have gone completely all in with all their money.
They finally get to spend all the money they have wanted to on recruits and not get in trouble. They finally figured out the need to buy a few defensive players too.

As long as Kiffen is at the helm they will win. But Kiffen is just crazy enough to leave. He's a fool because everything is easy if he stays in Oxford the scores over 40 points points a game.

 

[Dawgg]

No 10-win SEC team is going to get left out. That's just not gonna happen.

I think it's going to happen just based on the limited availability of at-large slots. Last year, the following SEC (and to be SEC) teams ended the regular season with 10 or more wins:
Georgia
Missouri
Alabama (champ)
Ole Miss
Texas
Oklahoma

The following Big Ten (and to be Big Ten) teams ended the regular season with 10 or more wins:
Michigan (champ)
Ohio State
Penn State
Iowa
Washington
Oregon

Under the current format there are six at large teams (though we know it's subject to change). Let's say the ACC and Big 12 only get in their champs. Let's even go as far as to say the Pac-12 loses its AQ bid and are put with the G5, so at the most that's 7 at large spots, so 3 teams out of that list of 10 non-champs listed above are going to get left out and I have a hard time seeing the committee put in 5 SEC at-larges and 2 Big Ten at-larges. From a branding POV, I have a hard time seeing Ole Miss and Missouri getting in over Washington, Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, and maybe Iowa.

And no... I haven't done the math to see what the impact of adding all of these teams will have on the number of possible 10 win teams from each conference, but just sidewalk math tells me that neither conference added a conference game to the schedule, so it stands to reason that you could have the same number as before (including teams that got 10 wins while playing in other conferences).

 

[L4Dawg]

I meant it would blow the board up with posts. Not that Ole Miss is not good. The Ole Miss Plantation Owners, Doctors, and Lawyers have gone completely all in with all their money.
They finally get to spend all the money they have wanted to on recruits and not get in trouble. They finally figured out the need to buy a few defensive players too.

As long as Kiffen is at the helm they will win. But Kiffen is just crazy enough to leave. He's a fool because everything is easy if he stays in Oxford the scores over 40 points points a game.

I don't know about it being easy. They are expecting championships, national championships. They are spending money, but not as much as the real contenders are.

 

[Pink Floyd.sixpack]

Just one thing to remember. Like the rest of the free world, they are a qb injury from being 6 and 6

 

[msudawg1200]

Ole Miss will win the West this year, lose in Atlanta, and win their first playoff game --- and maybe more.

It's gonna suck if you waste your time trying compare us to Ole Miss this year or the next few years.

Cold Hard Fact.

I'll bet you an entire year's salary that Ole Miss doesn't win the West this year. While we are at it let's throw in vehicles, houses, property, retirement, etc.

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Who is going to beat them except for maybe Georgia?

 

[bully12]

I'll bet you an entire year's salary that Ole Miss doesn't win the West this year. While we are at it let's throw in vehicles, houses, property, retirement, etc.

Well, not to state the obvious, but since there is no SEC west this year, I don't see how UMissy or anyone else can win it.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Ole Miss has not changed much since I first started watching football. Neither of us spends close to the same amount as the big boys so I have tempered my expectations for MSU. I care little for Mississippi but I know that you guys will.

They might expect more success since they have spent more money and have a coach with a reputation for offense but I remember all the times before when they were going to leave us. They are still not blue bloods anywhere except in their own minds.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Ole Miss has not changed much since I first started watching football. Neither of us spends close to the same amount as the big boys so I have tempered my expectations for MSU. I care little for Mississippi but I know that you guys will.

They might expect more success since they have spent more money and have a coach with a reputation for offense but I remember all the times before when they were going to leave us. They are still not blue bloods anywhere except in their own minds.

I remember when they were ready for their now beloved coach to leave.

 

[Maroon13]

The Ole Miss Plantation Owners, Doctors, and Lawyers have gone completely all in with all their money.
They finally get to spend all the money they have wanted to on recruits and not get in trouble. They finally figured out the need to buy a few defensive players too.

As long as Kiffen is at the helm they will win. But Kiffen is just crazy enough to leave. He's a fool because everything is easy if he stays in Oxford the scores over 40 points points a game.

They went all in on recruiting with Brewer. They become pretty good. The NCAA put a stop to it and buried Brewer.

Y'all will remember better Freeze. Same thing. They spent big time and the ncaa put a stop to it.

Y'all wanted the ncaa gone. You got it. OM is spending as much as they want. Nobody is going to stop them. Kiffin isn't leaving.

The egg bowl is about to resemble Bedlam for the next 10 years or so.

 

[msudawg1200]

Well, not to state the obvious, but since there is no SEC west this year, I don't see how UMissy or anyone else can win it.

That's my point

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

I'll bet you an entire year's salary that Ole Miss doesn't win the West this year. While we are at it let's throw in vehicles, houses, property, retirement, etc.

Puh-lease. I don't believe in them that much, but they are sitting as pretty as anyone else in the West and, in my view, it is theirs to lose. They have the coach, the talent, and the money. And they are going to get a few lucky breaks.

 

[Johnnie Come Lately]

Who wants to tell him?

If a Bear wins the West when there is no West to win, does it hang a banner?

 

[Dawgg]

Puh-lease. I don't believe in them that much, but they are sitting as pretty as anyone else in the West

Strictly speaking, that's true, but Mississippi State has as much chance of winning the West as Ole Miss does.

I'll take that bet though. I'm serious. I will bet my car vs your car that Ole Miss does not win the SEC West in football this upcoming season.

 

[Dawgg]

If a Bear wins the West when there is no West to win, does it hang a banner?

I mean... they hung one when they didn't win a West that existed at the time, so why not?