Nick Saban offers primary reason why Ole Miss will compete with elite teams in the SEC in 2024

Day one of SEC Media Days is underway, with Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss players taking to the media today. Before that, Nick Saban commented on why Ole Miss will look different in 2024, while the team gave their SEC Championship Game predictions.

After Saban, Benjamin Watson, and Greg McElroy, all members of the SEC Network team, dropped their predicted SEC Championship Game lineup, Saban said there was one thing that would make the Rebels competitive against the elite SEC teams in 2024.

""Can Ole Miss match up on the front with Georgia? They can this year. They're gonna look more like an SEC team. ""

- Nick Saban on SEC Network

We have spoken about Lane Kiffin identifying that Ole Miss struggled up front against Georgia in their 2023 game. Kiffin and the staff have utilized the transfer portal to bolster both sides of the line, beefing up the offensive line and adding size and disruptors on the defensive line.

Nick Saban likes what Kiffin has added to both sides of the ball, calling them legitimate SEC Championship contenders in 2024.

Nick Saban does not have Ole Miss making the SEC Championship Game

Despite the positive comments, Nick Saban left out Ole Miss and his former team, Alabama, from his SEC Championship Game prediction. Saban went for Georgia-Texas to meet in the SEC Title game in Atlanta, Georgia.

Saban's SEC Network colleague Benjamin Watson did pick Ole Miss to make the championship game, predicting they would face Georgia for a second time in 2024. They will meet in the regular season in Oxford in week 10.

Greg McElroy, who is high on the Rebels this season, predicted Alabama-Texas. All three mentioned nine teams have the credentials to make an SEC Championship Game in 2024, shaping for a great season in the SEC.