‘They’re making the playoff’: ESPN’s ‘Stanford’ Steve Coughlin ‘all-in’ on Ole Miss for 2024-25
Oddsmakers project similar-ish seasons from Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU and Missouri in 2024-25.
All four have the same win-total forecast (9.5). However, the Rebels, notably, were ranked highest (No. 6) of the group in the preseason coaches’ Top 25 poll.
Ole Miss returns the core of a team that won a program-record 11 games last season.
“It’s an old, veteran group that’s played a lot,” fifth-year head coach Lane Kiffin said. “I think they’re really unique, culture guys. The whole ‘Last Dance’ thing and guys coming in for their last year and staying for their last year. When you do that, you’re investing a lot.
“I really feel they’re not just here because they just happened to come here. They came here to do something really special.”
Leading the way is third-year starting quarterback Jaxson Dart. Dart has the sixth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy. He’s on the preseason watchlists for both the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Awards.
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Dart is coming off the best season of his career.
He completed over 65 percent (233 for 358) of his passes for 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns. He only threw five interceptions, tied for the fewest in a single season in Ole Miss history with at least 200 attempts.
Dart rushed for an additional 389 yards and eight scores on 119 carries
“I want to see it with Ole Miss — improvements on the defensive line, increased depth on the o-line,” Andy Staples said this week. He was echoing similar Ole Miss thoughts of his from earlier in the summer.
“I trust Alabama’s roster more, so I feel like they’re kind of the outlier of those four.”
Staples was considering the quartet’s collective contender status on his ‘Andy Staples On3’ podcast. He was joined by guest ‘Stanford’ Steve Coughlin of ESPN/College GameDay.
“My expectation level? I have Ole Miss as the highest of that group,” Coughlin said. “I have huge expectations. The one bet I made was Jaxson Dart for the Heisman. Look at what they did (last season) coming back in games.
“They gave up 49 points to LSU and were down nine in the fourth quarter. They win that game in regulation. You don’t do that without a special kid at quarterback. I’m a huge believer in Jaxson Dart.”
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Coughlin isn’t alone.
On3 national analyst JD PicKell is calling at least a playoff appearance for the Rebels, on top of what PicKell has called ‘Darty in the ‘Sip Season’ coming to Oxford. The playoff field has expanded from four to 12 teams. Ole Miss has been ranked Top 10 in each of the last three.
“I love the depth Lane has gotten across the board as the ‘Portal King,’” Coughlin said. “I’m in on Ole Miss this year.
“Go back and look at Penn State (in the Peach Bowl). (Caden) Prieskorn went crazy in that game. “How many times do you see a tight end go off on the No. 1 defense in the country? I’m all-in on Ole Miss. I put them at the top (of the four-team grouping). I’m still believing in Alabama; they’re right there.”
Ole Miss, in its second full week of preseason practices, opens the year against Furman on August 31.
Among the transfer headliners were Walter Nolen (defensive tackle, Texas A&M), Princely Umanmielen (EDGE, Florida) and Antwane ‘Juice’ Wells (wide receiver, South Carolina).
The Rebels also brought back (and kept from the NFL Draft) a number of key veterans. Along with Dart is wide receivers Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins, defensive linemen Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues, Prieskorn, running back Ulysses Bentley, IV, and offensive linemen Caleb Warren and Jeremy James.
The roster was further boosted in the off-season by a Top 20 freshman class and the No. 3 overall portal haul in the country.
“I feel confident with the over,” Staples said. “I feel very confident saying they’re making the playoff. The schedule bodes well for them. Ole Miss and Missouri have a better schedule draw than Alabama and LSU.
“I like Alabama and Ole Miss here. I would go under on Missouri and LSU. Neither of them, I think, are going to be able to play as well on the defensive side of the ball as they need to make the playoff.”
