The Associated Press released its Preseason Poll on Monday morning and Ole Miss football was listed on the poll for the third straight year. The Rebels come in ranked as the No. 22 team in the country and are one of six SEC teams ranked in the top 25.
Under Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss Rebels have been a consistent name listed on the AP poll over the last few seasons. While they will have one of the toughest schedules in all of college football this year, they have been ranked 22nd overall on this year’s preseason AP top 25 poll.
It looks like the poll voters think similarly of this year’s team as last year’s as they came in ranked one spot ahead at 21st on the 2022 preseason poll. After last year’s disappointing finish, Ole Miss football is hoping to bounce back in 2023 and there’s reason to be hopeful for Rebel fans.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart is entering his second year in Lane Kiffin’s system and so far during fall camp Kiffin has had nothing but praise for how Dart has grown from year one to year two.
Also returning is the SEC’s freshman offensive player of the year and one of the best running backs in the country Quinshon Judkins. Toss in tight end transfer Caden Prieskorn and talented wideouts Zakhari Franklin and Tre Harris and Lane Kiffin’s offense shouldn’t miss a beat.
The Rebels didn’t just upgrade on offense though, as they went out and stole Alabama’s defensive coordinator Pete Golding to revamp the defense as well as adding some big-time transfers in CB Zamari Walton and DT Joshua Harris.
While Ole Miss football could see better play on both sides of the ball this year, they have one of the most brutal schedules in all of college football. The Rebels will have to face three of the top five ranked teams this year in No. 1 Georgia, No. 4 Alabama, and No. 5 LSU. They also play ranked teams in Texas A&M and Tulane and while currently unranked, teams like Auburn and Arkansas will not be easy wins.
The rest of the 2023 AP Preseason Top 25 Poll can be found below:
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- LSU
- USC
- Penn State
- Florida State
- Clemson
- Washington
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Notre Dame
- Utah
- Oregon
- Kansas State
- TCU
- Oregon State
- Wisconsin
- Oklahoma
- North Carolina
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Tulane
- Iowa