The latest AP Poll has been announced with a small Ole Miss climb in the rankings. It was a surprise to some after a below-average win over ULM Warhawks.
The Rebels picked up the pace in the second half against ULM on Saturday. However, it was still a below-average performance in their 35-3 win. Every college football game is different, but it was against an opposition who have lost their last eight, convincingly in most.
With not much happening around them in the rankings, not many fans were expecting an Ole Miss climb. However, the Rebels did move up one place to number 12.
🚨Week 13 College Football AP Poll🚨 pic.twitter.com/MAGgZXXGxI
— 247Sports (@247Sports) November 19, 2023
As mentioned, not much happened around Ole Miss in the rankings. The only team above the Rebels to lose was Oregon State, going down to now #4 ranked Washington.
The Beavers slipped below the Rebels, but Oklahoma brushed aside BYU. The Sooners have lost two games but do have a win against a top 7 team. It wouldn’t be the first time a team ranked above another didn’t sit right.
The AP committee did make the decision for the Ole Miss climb to number 12, with Oregon State dropping to number 15 in the Poll. The Rebels sit in front of Oklahoma and just behind Penn State.
The Rebels have a big game on Thursday in the Egg Bowl against rivals Mississippi State. A win in that game, with a couple of teams losing above them, could still see them ranked in the top ten.
Head coach Lane Kiffin won’t be happy with the performance on Saturday. On a short turnaround, he will be in the ears of his offense, getting them zoned in for the game on Thanksgiving Day.
With Kiffin losing last season’s Egg Bowl, there will be an extra incentive to win the game. If the Rebels can win the game, then their bowl game it will be their best season under Kiffin.