College football is here. We had the appetizer this past weekend with Week 0, which delivered a great game between Kansas State and Iowa State in an Irish infused edition of the Farmageddon rivalry.
Week 1 promises to bring even more, we have one of the best regular season matchups in recent history with #1 Texas traveling to the shoe to take on No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Clemson playing No. 9 LSU in the night cap. While the Rebels season will get underway this weekend, Ole Miss will certainly not be in the spotlight as they play Georgia State.
Ole Hotty Toddy will be here all season long to provide coverage of the Rebels season and their run for the College Football Playoff. Today we will go over predictions for the upcoming season, picking every single game and give out some preseason awards.
Pre-Season Awards
Offensive MVP: Daequan Wright
The tight end position is really important in the Lane Kiffin offense, and it will be even more so with a young QB. The injury to Luke Hasz only increases the importance of Daequan Wright. Wright was really good in his first year at Ole Miss and his role only continued to increase oven the course of the year. He caught 27 passes for 400 yards and 4 touchdown. I think he could double all of those numbers as he emerges as Simmons security blanket. Another really solid pick for this award would be WR Cayden Lee.
Offensive Breakout Player: Austin Simmons
This is a bit of a cop out because it is the easiest pick. There is a ton of buzz around Austin Simmons, but it seems to be more amongst the Ole Miss fandom and not so much in the national media. My prediction here is that Simmons will put his name on the national map and be a Heisman contender heading into next year. Honorable mention for this award is transfer running back Kewan Lacy, who seems to have taken the lead back position during fall camp.
Offensive Glue Guy: Patrick Kutas
The offensive line, particularly their health, has been a key concern during fall camp. One of the main additions to the line was Patrick Kutas from Arkansas. He has the ability to be an all-conference player, but he has dealt with durability concerns during his career. His health and ability to anchor the O-line will be of critical important to Ole Miss this year. Similar things can be said of RT Jayden Williams
Defensive MVP: Suntarine Perkins
Perkins last year flashed, but he did so while surrounded by NFL talent along the Rebels defensive line. This year, he will be the go-to guy, and he will need to be dominant if the rebels hope to follow up last year's success on defense. He is an All-American candidate, will be conversations for national awards, and has the chance to be a first round pick next spring. There will be a lot asked of Perkins, high expectation, and he will need to deliver. Honorable mention here is linebacker TJ Dottery.
Defensive Breakout Player: Kam Franklin
The borderline 5 star edge rusher was one of Pete Goulding’s guys in the 2024 class. He has now spent a year and a half being developed by one of the best d-line coaches in America, Randal Joyner. Franklin looks primed for that next step. He has the size and talent level to fill the Jared Ivey role right away. He can rush the passer from both the edge or inside. He also will be able to provide some run stopping ability to complement the pure pass rushing prowess of Perkins and Umanmielen.
Game Predictions
Game 1: Georgia State, August 30th
The first game of the season will still leave a lot to imagination for what this Ole Miss team could become. It will be a total mismatch of talent on the field and the Rebels should have no problem dispatching of the Panthers.
Ole Miss Win (1-0)
Game 2: @ Kentucky, September 6th
The Rebels will have an early chance to avenge the worst loss of the Kiffin era when they travel to Lexington. The worry here is that this will be Simmons first SEC start, and it will be on the road. However, I am not sure if you could pick a better place for that first road start to be. There is nothing but apathy surrounding the Kentucky program, and there is a strong case to be made the that the Wildcats have the worst roster in the SEC.
Ole Miss Win (2-0)
Game 3: Arkansas, September 13th
Last season, the Rebels completely annihilated the Razorbacks in Fayetteville. For much of recent history, the Ole Miss - Arkansas game has been really competitive, not so much last year. This year the Hogs will come to Oxford. The Arkansas program seems to be spinning tires, and this is a spot where the Rebels will need to avoid an early season landmine.
Ole Miss Win (3-0)
Game 4: Tulane, September 20th
Tulane is a really solid G5 program and team. However, there is a massive gap between that level of football and the SEC. There is certainly the potential for a look ahead spot here for the Rebels, but they will be the more talented team. This is also a decent resume game for Ole Miss, depending on how the season plays out for the Green wave.
Ole Miss Win (4-0)
The first four games for the Rebels this year are must wins. They have a good ramp up to the season and will be able to get Simmons feet wet before the meat of the schedule. They need to avoid a letdown if they have any hope of making the playoffs.
Game 5: LSU, September 27th
This game is a really turning point game of the season. A win and Ole Miss is now in a really good spot for a playoff run. A loss and the pathway gets tighter. This is an underrated pick for one of the most important games of the season for both teams. LSU is really all in on this season and Brian Kelly needs a playoff berth. The Tigers have a tough start with Clemson in Week 1 and Florida in Week 3. There is the potential that they could already have a loss or two, which would have Baton Rouge on high alert. I think that LSU is going to a really good team this season, but Lane Kiffin has shown his ability to put up numbers against LSU. The Rebels let the game slip away last year and will get their shot this year at home. This will be a coin flip game.
LSU Win (4-1)
Game 6: Washington State, October 11th
The Washington State game was a late add to the schedule after Wake Forrest canceled their return trip to Oxford. The Cougars program was unfortunately left for dead in the wake of the collapse of the Pac-12. This is another game where the talent level shouldn't be comparable.
Ole Miss Win (5-1)
Game 7: @ Georgia, October 18th
This is going to be one of the few games of the year when Ole Miss will be clear underdogs. Of course, Ole Miss had their moment when they dominated Georgia last year in Oxford, but this is not the same Rebel team. Georgia also simply does not loss at home. Now, this Georgia team is not the same juggernaut that they have been and will be attempting to break in a new QB as well, but it will be a tall task for Ole Miss to go to Athens and win.
Georgia Win (5-2)
Game 8: @ Oklahoma, October 25th
Even with a win against LSU or Georgia, the trip to Norman will be a huge game. If the Rebels do find themselves with two loses at this point then this game become even bigger. The Sooners are going all in on new QB John Mateer, but I am not sold on Venabals ability as a head coach. The Rebels will need a big win here.
Ole Miss Win (6-2)
Game 9: South Carolina, November 1st
Last season, Ole Miss went to Columbia, South Carolina and absolutely dog walked the Gamecocks from start to finish. South Carolina went on to have a strong season and are brining in a ton of hype from the media and have a Heisman hopeful in QB Lanorris Sellers. However, the Gamecocks lost a ton, specifically on the defensive side of the ball, and I don't think they were able to adequately replace the talent lost. I also have questions of Seller's passing ability, especially with a lackluster receiving corps. At this point of the season, the Gamecocks could already be a major disappointment. This game is in the Vaught and the Rebels should handle business again.
Ole Miss Win (7-2)
Game 10: Citadel, November 8th
The late season SEC buy game falls here for the Rebels. I think it is actually a really nice spot for the break, especially if there is still a lot to play for heading into the Florida game. Not much to say here, but it will be an opportunity to see some young guys after a season of development.
Ole Miss Win (8-2)
Game 11: Florida, November 15th
Sitting 8-2 once again, one of the last hurdles between the Rebels and the CFP will be the Florida Gators. Last year's trip to the swamp ripped our hearts out, and there will be a chance to avenge it. The Gators are super talented, but they have a grueling schedule. By this point in the season, it is hard to tell what things might look like in Gainesville. Lagway is supremely talent, but there are already durability concerns with the young QB.
Ole Miss Win (9-2)
Game 12: @ Mississippi State, November 28th
The Egg Bowl will be the Egg Bowl. It is a good old-fashioned rivalry game, so you can throw the records out. Mississippi State will most likely still be at the bottom of the SEC, but they will come to play against Ole Miss at home. Weird things happen every year, but the Rebels will just be the better team, and Kiffin's dominance in this game should continue.
Ole Miss Win (10-2)
I am bullish on this Ole Miss team, maybe too much so. I think that this group will avenge the letdown of last year and get over the hump and make the playoffs. Now I think 10-2 is the ceiling of this team, and they will rely on a pretty solid schedule to get the job done.
The floor of this team is probably about 8-4 and finishing 9-3 again is probably a more realistic projection. We will find out soon enough what this team is made of.