We are just six days from week 0 of college football action, which means no more Saturdays without college football in 2024. For Ole Miss, their first game is in week 1, the start of the journey of making the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Rebels are one of many teams to believe they can be one of those 12 teams, with the four champions from the Power 4 Conferences and the best-ranked Group of 5 teams guaranteed playoff spots. The rest of college football fights it out for the remaining seven spots.
Ole Miss would still fancy its chances if it were still a four-team playoff. Now that it's 12, they will be confident, but they must still put it all together on the field. Nothing is given in college football. The expectation is that 10-2 gets you in; looking at the Ole Miss schedule, that is achievable. With Georgia, LSU, and Oklahoma the more challenging games, winning just one of those while winning the games they are favored in should get them in.
Lane Kiffin's side has been ranked in the top 12 by every media site, with the coaches and AP poll having them at the No. 6 spot. Kiffin calls that "rat poison," though he knows the buzz was inevitable with past performances and transfer portal work.
The Rebels may have chances in the future, but in 2024, they have a big chance of making the 12-team College Football Playoffs. Like a high percentage of people, I have them in my 12-team College Football Playoff prediction.
Rank | Team | Why are they here | Previous rank |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Georgia | SEC Champion | N/A |
2 | Ohio State | Big Ten Champion | N/A |
3 | Utah | Big 12 Champion | N/A |
4 | Miami (FL) | ACC Champion | N/A |
5 | Oregon | At-large | N/A |
6 | Ole Miss | At-large | N/A |
7 | Texas | At-large | N/A |
8 | Notre Dame | At-large | N/A |
9 | Alabama | At-large | N/A |
10 | Penn State | At-large | N/A |
11 | Missouri | At-large | N/A |
12 | Boise State | Mountain West Champion | N/A |
As mentioned, the 12-team CFP will have five automatic bids from conference champions. The four top-ranked teams will receive a bye into the second round, with those four coming from the five conference champions.
Ole Miss has a legitimate chance of making the College Football Playoffs and the SEC Championship Game. If the Rebels can achieve 11 wins, we could see Lane Kiffin competing for a conference title opposite Georgia's Kirby Smart. If that happens, then a playoff place is guaranteed even with a loss in the SEC Championship Game.