Copyright Athlon Sports
Ole Miss Rebels football has been competitive in the SEC since head coach Lane Kiffin took over in 2020, but the program is on another level this season. The then-No. 8 Rebels entered Saturday’s road matchup with the then-No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners with a 6-1 (3-1 SEC) record, but they were coming off a 43-35 loss to the then-No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs. Another defeat to a top-15 team could’ve started a narrative that they’re inconsistent in big games, although they did beat the then-No. 4 LSU Tigers 24-19 on Sept. 27. However, Ole Miss won 34-26 behind a standout performance by senior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who tossed for 315 passing yards and a touchdown to go with 53 rushing yards on 12 carries. Kiffin then took a victory lap on “The Pat McAfee Show,” via McAfee’s social media. “I picked Oklahoma. That’s 100 percent on me, coach,” McAfee admitted Monday. “I apologize for that. I should’ve known that you guys are exactly who you said you are: dogs willing to go into anywhere, any environment and win.” “Well you helped motivate us, Pat, just so you know,” Kiffin responded. “There was a lot of talk on the bus about this pick of yours, and everybody picking against us.” The Rebels (7-1, 4-1 SEC), now ranked No. 7, would be the best team in most conferences, but they’re fourth in the SEC behind the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies (8-0, 5-0 SEC), No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0 SEC) and No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (6-1, 4-1 SEC). Still, Ole Miss will be a lock to make the 12-team CFP field if it wins the rest of its regular-season slate. The Rebels have no ranked teams left on the schedule, and the Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-4, 0-4 SEC) are the only one at or above .500. Up next is a home contest against the South Carolina Gamecocks (3-5, 1-5 SEC) before hosting The Citadel (3-5). After that, they’ll host the Florida Gators (3-4, 2-2 SEC) before playing the Bulldogs on the road to close out the regular season. Winning those games may not be enough to make the SEC Championship considering the competition at the top of the standings. Either way, it would get Ole Miss into the dance.
