ESPN released the initial CFP rankings of the 2025 season Tuesday night, and it affirmed the Ole Miss Rebels' legitimate playoff standing at No.6.
If the College Football Playoff were to start tomorrow, Lane Kiffin's squad would be facing ACC's top team, Virginia, at home in the first-round matchups; a game where the Rebels clearly look the heavy favorites to win.
It does give the Rebels a decent start to their playoff path, but it would last for just one game. Because if Ole Miss holds off UVA, an even concerning roadblock awaits them for their next game: the Texas A&M Aggies.
Texas A&M should be a serious concern for Lane Kiffin
The Rebels won't be losing sleep over Virginia; their real concern would be what immidiately follows.
Once Kiffin's squad clears its first-round game, it will face Texas A&M, which, according to the initial rankings, is the best team in the SEC and a heavy favorite to win the SEC Championship.
THE FIRST 12-TEAM CFP BRACKET PROJECTION OF THE SEASON‼️
— ESPN (@espn) November 5, 2025
The committee selected Memphis as the best team from the remaining conferences. pic.twitter.com/EU6NCc33Ds
Marcel Reed has established himself as a serious dual-threat QB, steering the Aggies clear of any losses this year.
Ole Miss boasts its own elite signal-caller in Trinidad Chambliss, so matching Reed's versatile plays and the big numbers that the Aggies' offense put up won't be much of a problem.
The Rebels' defense has been showing consistent improvement throughout the season, which would also help in keeping the A&M offense at bay, especially if Reed and his offense continue being inconsistent at times.
What would be the real problem for the Rebels would be Texas A&M's defense. Mike Elko's defense has consistently dominated high-scoring opponents, so much so that the Rebels' offense might struggle to even move the ball against them.
QB Chambliss has also shown inconsistencies throughout the season, and the Aggies' defense specializes in generating elite pressure, ranked the No.1 nationally in sacks and 3rd down percentage.
That said, the Rebels have faced an identically formidable defense, ranked the No.1 nationally in scoring defense, in Oklahoma last week. And Ole Miss took home the win against them despite being the heavy underdogs then.
If they did it once, it would be well within their grasp this time as well.
And then there's always room for a major shakeup in the CFP rankings in the following weeks.