Poll Position: Ole Miss a consensus preseason Top 6 team with release of Associated Press Poll
Since knocking off Penn State in last December’s Peach Bowl the hype has been that Ole Miss will be a Top 10 program entering the 2024 season.
Monday made that official and also put the Rebels just outside being a Top 5 team with the release of the Associated Press’ Preseason Top 25.
Ole Miss starts the year as the No. 6 team in the country, equaling the Coaches Poll’s preseason rankings released last Monday. This is the highest preseason AP Poll ranking since 2009 when the Rebels started the year at No. 8. In 1970 they were ranked No. 5.
Same as the Coaches Poll, Georgia starts the year as the No. 1 team in the country ahead of Ohio State at No. 2, Oregon (No. 3), Texas (No. 4) and Alabama (No. 5).
There are four Southeastern Conference teams in the Top 10 with Ole Miss being the fourth-highest among them. Missouri just missed out, entering at No. 11. LSU (No. 13), Tennessee (15), Oklahoma (16) and Texas A&M (20) round out the SEC teams.
With both preseason polls released it cements the lofty expectations and anticipation that awaits fifth-year Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin. This is the highest-ranked team he has been the coach of since his Southern California team in 2013.
“The biggest thing for us as coaches is focusing on the process and not worry about the outcome,” Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr. said last week of managing expectations.
The Rebels kick off the 2024 season on Aug. 31 against Furman at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.
Below is the complete Associated Press Top 25 preseason rankings
- Georgia
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Texas
- Alabama
- Ole Miss
- Notre Dame
- Penn State
- Michigan
- Florida State
- Missouri
- Utah
- LSU
- Clemson
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- Kansas State
- Miami
- Texas A&M
- Arizona
- Kansas
- Southern California
- North Carolina State
- Iowa
