Football
Finebaum Thoughts on Rebels’ Playoff Hopes After LSU Loss
Paul Finebaum doesn’t believe the Rebels have strong hope of making playoff following second league loss last week
OXFORD, Miss. — The Rebels’ focus has now shifted from a loss against LSU to recovery in a bye week. There has been plenty of talk this week about how Ole Miss has failed to live up to the hype with arguably its most talented roster in decades.
SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum joined ESPN anchor Matt Barrie’s podcast sharing his thoughts if Ole Miss still has hope of a College Football Playoff bid. With such a daunting schedule remaining that includes hosting Oklahoma, Georgia and a road trip to Arkansas things could unravel quickly.
“I agree with you, Matt and playing the schedule game, Ole Miss has one game on schedule that I think will do them in, even assuming they’re not done in already,” Finebaum said during his segment on The Matt Barrie Show. “Because that Kentucky loss is now looking nasty. They have to deal with Georgia — a win against Georgia, and depending on where Georgia is, but Georgia very likely is going to have to win that game, too.”
Expectations for Kiffin’s team soared this offseason with his staff’s focus of building a roster of star transfers. He also added quality freshmen with the school’s major push for NIL contribution.
Ole Miss was ranked No. 6 in the preseason AP Poll but have fallen to No. 18 with two losses. Another hiccup could cause things to unravel for a team perceived as one of the best before the season.
Before yall think the worse lol. I Red Shirted so I can play a complete year for my last opportunity of College ball.
All Luv 🗣️
— KE(Y) LAWRENCE 💰C❌C (@KeShawn2x) October 14, 2024
Speaking of building a roster on transfers and NIL has sparked conversation around the nation that the new way of college football isn’t sustainable. Players are now opting out midseason to preserve their redshirt year to transfer again. That’s the case for safety Key Lawrence who transferred to Ole Miss from Oklahoma during the offseason.
Ole Miss Rebels coach Lane Kiffin reacts after a play against the LSU Tigers during the second half at Tiger Stadium. | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
This is in no way meant to discourage athletes and coaches from doing what they desire with the portal. However, it seems building a roster full of transfers isn’t translating to victories this season.
Many programs that have heavily used the portal have two or more losses already. Which could be proof that team chemistry is built over time and not cooked instantly.
There’s no such thing for program loyalty anymore. Seeing freshmen end their respective careers at one school seems to be a thing of the past. Loyalty at the professional level is long gone as most are looking to secure a bag instead of playing for a single franchise their entire career.
Football
Ole Miss to learn plenty with CFP rankings: Rebel Roundup
Your daily briefing on what’s going on with Ole Miss Athletics.
Ole Miss football will get a lot of its questions answered tonight.
The College Football Playoff Committee will release its third edition of its rankings at 6 p.m. tonight on ESPN. The Rebels figure to be included in the committee’s rankings, but where they’re ranked – and more importantly where other teams are ranked – will be telling to how clear the Rebels’ path to a playoff berth is.
The SEC has five teams with two losses and how the committee ranks those teams will determine who just needs to win out and who needs help.
For the Rebels, what will be important to know is where does the committee rank Georgia? How far does Tennessee fall after losing to the Bulldogs? Is LSU fall out of the top 25? How far does South Carolina rise after beating Missouri? Is Ole Miss ranked ahead of BYU (who lost to unranked Kansas, but still in contention for the Big 12 championship)? Where does the highest-ranked Group of 5 team rank?
How the committee answers those questions will go a long way in determining in if Ole Miss simply needs to just win its final two games or needs to rack up style points in those wins?
Of course, a loss will put the Rebels in the same boat as LSU. Out of the playoffs.
Yesterday’s Ole Miss Results
Women’s Basketball: Ole Miss 76, Jackson State 44
Today’s Ole Miss Schedule
Women’s Tennis: NCAA Individual Championship, Waco, Texas
Did You Notice?
Ole Miss coach Yolet McPhee-McCuin won her 200th career game, and 106th at Ole Miss, with the Rebels dispatching Jackson Stte 76-44 at SJB Pavillion on Kids Day.
Daily Dose Of Archie Manning
“I really don’t think I have lived my life as an open book.”
We’ll Leave You With This
Football
What Josh Pate thought about where Ole Miss ranked in AP poll
The Ole Miss Reels were ranked No. 9 by the media in Sunday’s poll and Josh Pate released his reaction
OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss Reels were ranked No. 9 by the media in Sunday’s poll and Josh Pate released his reaction on YouTube on Monday.
Football
With a clear path to the playoff, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin talks to reporters
The Rebels’ head coach spoke with reporters about a variety of issues.
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and his players came into the 2024 season with the loftiest goals and highest expectations an Ole Miss team has had since a Manning played quarterback.
Despite a shocking home loss to Kentucky and overtime loss to LSU, the Rebels are still in position to accomplish most of those goals. An conference championship isn’t likely, but a spot in the new 12-team playoff is and the Rebels’ path is crystal clear.
Beat Florida. Beat Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.
If Ole Miss can win those two games, it should be in the playoff.
With that in mind, Kiffin started the week off with his weekly Monday press conference with reporters and talked about the playoffs and much more.
WATCH:
“He’s now become the rat poison.”
-Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin on Nick Saban being complimentary of his team this season. pic.twitter.com/PziIml0m3d
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) November 18, 2024
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