It's been a common feature across most preseason top 25 rankings: Ole Miss is in the top 6. Whether that is the No.5 or No.6 spot, the Rebels are among the top-rated teams heading into the 2024 season.
The Preseason AP Poll Top 25 had Ole Miss exactly where the coaches had them, at the No. 6 spot behind Alabama. The Rebels and Crimson Tide usually are in the No.5 and No.6 spots, with Ole Miss averaging the No.6 spot across all the media preseason rankings.
Preseason AP Poll 🚫🐀☠️#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/V29c5KyIcs
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 12, 2024
Lane Kiffin's team was ahead of Notre Dame, Penn State, and National Champions Michigan in the AP Poll, which complied with the votes from college football journalists. Ole Miss was the fourth-highest SEC team behind Georgia, Texas, and Alabama.
Once again, Kiffin will label it "rat poison," and plenty of opposing fans will ask why they are so highly rated. This could add more weight to the team's shoulders, with Kiffin looking to keep the team focused on what they can control: their performance on the field.
As mentioned, their is not much change in the AP Poll, compared to the Coaches Poll we saw last week. LSU and Utah have swapped places, NC State and Kansas also changing spots, with both top 25 having the same teams.
Opposing fans are not happy with the Ole Miss hype
With hype comes expectations and a whole lot of hate. Ole Miss has been getting plenty of buzz thanks to last season's performances and their roster. Unfortunately, opposing team fans aren't buying it.
Not mad at all about Michigan's AP ranking. They wanna be higher than that, beat Texas.
— Isaiah Bella (@ztapin) August 12, 2024
Someone has to make a PowerPoint presentation for me on why Ole Miss is ranked so high tho.
Ole Miss is the latest SEC darling that will fall way short
— Scot Fagerstrom (@SFagerstromABJ) August 12, 2024
We can argue all day about bowl games not being competitive. However, Ole Miss dispatched one of the best defenses in college football, Penn State, with ease during the Peach Bowl. That made it an 11-win season. With over 60% of starting production returning, the majority of offense, it's hard to argue that they shouldn't be ranked so high.
Add to that the favorable schedule and the highly rated players they have added from the transfer portal (ranked No.1 transfer portal class), and it just adds to the reasoning for the top six ranks.
As mentioned, Ole Miss needs to go and produce on the field, with plenty of teams wanting to silence the hype, starting with Furman in week 1. If the Rebels play at their best all season, they will likely be in the playoffs in December.