Ole Miss climbs again in the polls after thrilling victory over Arkansas

Ole Miss has surged into national prominence after a dramatic win over Arkansas, climbing into the top ranks in the weekly college football polls and ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI). The Rebels, now 3-0, are firmly entrenched as one of the SEC’s toughest competitors midway through September. We are still about six weeks out from the first CFP ranking, which is the only ranking that matters. With that said, here's how things look after the Week 3 win:

AP Poll

Following its 41-35 victory over Arkansas, Ole Miss moved up four spots to No. 13 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll. This marks the program’s first appearance in the Top 15 for the 2025 season, highlighting Lane Kiffin’s ability to keep the team on track despite injury challenges at quarterback.

Ole Miss is currently ranked as the sixth-best SEC team in the poll. They are just one spot above the Crimson Tide, who are showing steady improvement after their disastrous Week 1 performance. They are also just a couple of spots behind Oklahoma, who they will face later on this season in Norman. The Rebels are closing in on two Top 5 matchups, against No. 3 LSU in a couple of weeks and No. 5 Georgia in about a month. Ole Miss also takes on Tulane this weekend, who are one of the stronger G5 teams and received votes this week in the AP poll.

Coaches Poll

In the latest Coaches Poll released Sept. 14, Ole Miss has vaulted to No. 11, up two positions from last week. The Rebels’ strong 3-0 start and their resilience under pressure have earned them recognition from coaches around the country.

ESPN FPI

ESPN’s Football Power Index also has Ole Miss inside the Top 10, placing the Rebels at No. 8 in the updated rankings for Week 3. FPI metrics project Ole Miss as a contender in every remaining regular season matchup except one, giving them a robust chance to reach the College Football Playoff. The combination of schedule strength, offensive talent and defensive improvements has Ole Miss poised to potentially break that glass ceiling.