Capitalizing on a Championship Window: 2024 Ole Miss Football Preview
Photo by USA Today Sports
The 2024 college football season is likely the most anticipated in Ole Miss football history. For a program that has historically been in the middle or even at the bottom of the SEC standings, this team has the potential to be the greatest in school history. Understanding when your championship window is open and when to go all-in is crucial for a head coach in college football in 2024. Rebels Head Coach Lane Kiffin appears to have capitalized on that window heading into this season.
“Ole Miss, for many, people think are a dark horse National Championship contender, and rightfully so. They got to stay healthy for sure. But they definitely have the pieces that you would want moving forward into the 2024 season.”
The offense:
Starting on the offensive side of the ball, this is where Lane Kiffin has thrived throughout his entire career. As Offensive Coordinator from 2014 to 2016, he revamped Alabama’s offense and was a critical piece in sustaining the Nick Saban Dynasty. As the Head Coach of Ole Miss, he has also consistently delivered a top 30 offense every season. This will not change in 2024 as the Rebels bring back starting quarterback Jaxson Dart who threw for over 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns (TD), and had just five interceptions (INT). Dart also plays a critical role in the rushing game as he ran for just under 400 yards and 8 TD’s last year. The rushing game should also be elite for the Rebels as they return Ulysses Bentley and bring in multiple transfers at running back. This will be a recurring theme throughout the entire preview: the effective use of the transfer portal. Lane Kiffin has brought in proven, elite talent at positions of need where there isn’t much returning production. Henry Parrish (Miami FL) and Rashad Amos (Miami OH) both come in after being starters at their previous school to help boost the Rebels rushing attack. However, at receiver, there is certainly no shortage of returning production. Last year’s leading receiver Tre Harris returns after going just under 1,000 yards and catching eight touchdowns as well as Jordan Watkins who caught 53 passes for 741 yards. Kiffin also brought in transfer Antwane Wells (South Carolina) who was injured in 2023, but put up near 1,000 yards in 2022. All of these weapons are great, but when Ole Miss played against elite teams like Alabama and Georgia last season, they struggled up front and if they want to legitimately contend for a National Championship their offensive and defensive lines have to be better. On the offensive line, they added multiple guards with starting experience from Washington and Drake Pounds from North Carolina, who was set to start for the Tar Heels. The success of this lineup will be a major factor in determining whether Ole Miss can merely make the Playoff or win the entire thing.
Photo by USA Today Sports
the defense:
While time will tell if their offensive line is ready for the jump, I am extremely confident the defensive line is prepared for the challenge. Lane Kiffin clearly recognized their issues and addressed them by bringing in proven, All-SEC level talents on the defensive line. Walter Nolan (Texas A&M) comes in as the third ranked overall player in the transfer portal according to 247 Sports, and will immediately step in as a starter up front. Edge rusher Princely Umanmielen also comes in from Florida after being Second Team All-SEC in 2023. Returning starters Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues will also help to make this defensive line potentially one of the best in the country. At linebacker, they return both Suntarine Perkins and Khari Coleman, who will compete for two starting spots with transfer Chris Paul Jr. from Arkansas. While this may be the weakest position group on the defense, the depth will be crucial this season, and I believe the Rebels will manage just fine. The secondary is where Kiffin truly made his mark in the portal. Nearly every cornerback competing for a starting spot comes from the portal: Trey Amos (Alabama), Isaiah Hamilton (Houston), Brandon Turnage (Tennessee), and Louis Moore (Indiana) are all vying for positions at either cornerback or nickelback. However, the two boundary corner spots will most likely go to Trey Amos and Isaiah Hamilton. Amos, arriving from Alabama, was developed by Nick Saban and contributed significantly for the Tide, playing in all 14 games last year. Isaiah Hamilton, a Second Team All-Big 12 selection last year, recorded 4 interceptions and 4 pass deflections. With both starting safeties returning as well, it's clear why the Rebels' defense should be drastically improved in 2024. They will play a crucial role in determining whether Ole Miss can take the next step under Lane Kiffin.
Photo by Brett Davis
The schedule:
This is the final piece of recognizing and capitalizing on a championship window. In the new era of the SEC, getting a favorable schedule is extremely rare, but for Ole Miss, that appears to be the case for 2024. Dodging teams like Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee is a luxury most SEC teams don’t have. Additionally, Ole Miss gets some of their tougher games, like Georgia and Oklahoma, at home in Oxford. This is why it was crucial for Kiffin to invest heavily in talent through the transfer portal to win now. There may not be another year like this for the Rebels, where they have a legitimate shot to win 11 or more games and compete for the National Championship. Overall, with this team and this schedule, Lane Kiffin has done an excellent job recognizing his chance to compete and giving his team the best opportunity to pursue a National Championship.
