Greg McElroy reveals good news for Ole Miss in attempting back-to-back 10-win season

The Ole Miss Rebels are on the hunt to record their first back-to-back 10-win seasons since 1960. Despite losing a third-round pick at quarterback in Matt Corral, as well as other key players and coordinators, SEC analyst Greg McElroy sees a path back to 10 wins for Lane Kiffin’s squad thanks to new additions.

McElroy discussed the Rebels’ chances at another top-15 finish on Always College Football.

“It’s not all doom and gloom in Oxford, Mississippi,” McElroy said. “All the pieces you just lost, according to 247, you have the No. 2-ranked portal class. No. 1 was SC, Ole Miss was No. 2 Lane Kiffin has been called the Portal King and he’s embraced it, he’s embraced this new era of college football.

“You lost your top for rushers so you go get some running backs. You get Zach Evans, transfer from TCU, five-star guy coming out of high school. He has insane talent, very powerful… Don’t just want one running back, so you go get Ulysses Bentley from SMU, a little bit smaller… really quick twitch. He’ll do some of the things Jerrion Ealy did last season. Those were two huge additions.

“Not to be outdone, you bring in two guys from S.C. Michael Trigg is going to be a fun piece to work with. And then at quarterback, Jaxson Dart, no one will know if he’ll start yet … this competition is still up in the air.”

McElroy goes on to highlight defensive additions for the Rebels like Jared Ivey and Troy Brown who are already filling gaps left behind by NFL departures. To cap it off, the SEC analyst says he believes regardless of depth and talent, Ole Miss football is still on a path to success because Lane Kiffin holds the reins.

“You still have Lane Kiffin,” McElroy said. “He’s still one of the very best. He’s a mad scientist, Monday through Friday, to be able to draw up favorable matchups for them.”

ESPN FPI predicts 8-4 finish for Ole Miss

The ESPN Football Power Index graded out Ole Miss’ entire 2022 season and has the Rebels finishing with an 8-4 record.

The Rebels have an undeniably favorable start to the season with all four non-conference games in September. They then start SEC play against Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The FPI has Kiffin’s squad bowl eligible by Oct. 8 as they’re favored in the first seven games of the season.

However, of the final five games on the Rebels’ schedule, they are favored in only one of them – the 2022 Egg Bowl against Mississippi State. Ole Miss has a 63.3 percent chance of beating the Bulldogs in Oxford come Thanksgiving night.

If the FPI is correct then Ole Miss will close out the season on a 1-4 skid with losses to LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M and Arkansas. The closest matchup of those is at Arkansas with nearly a 50-50 odds split. The Razorbacks have a 50.3 chance to come away with the win in Fayetteville.

The easiest game on Ole Miss’ slate, according to the FPI, is the Sept. 10 game against Central Arkansas. Ole Miss has a 98.5 percent chance to beat the Bears.

Ole Miss’ toughest game is against Alabama. The Nov. 12 showdown of SEC West contenders is favored to go the Crimson Tide’s way with an 82.5 percent chance of victory.