Predicting Ole Miss football's record in 2024 (2024)

MEMPHIS, Tenn — The Ole Miss Rebelsopen the 2024 season ranked sixth in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Ole Miss aims to find themselves in the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff, but will have to make their way through an unforgiving SEC schedule.

Here’s how ABC24 sports reporters Avery Braxton, Caleb Hilliard and Rachel Phillips expect the season to play out.

vs. Furman, August 31

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

A matchup with an FCS opponent from the Southern Conference should get Lane Kiffin’s team warmed up for tougher tests later in the year. Ole Miss throttled Furman’s conference rival, Mercer, by 66 points in 2023. Rebels roll.

Vs. MTSU, September 7

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

MTSU went 4-8 a year ago and are picked to finish fourth in Conference USA. Ole Miss will have no issue in a tune up before their first real test.

At Wake Forest, September 14

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

This will be Wake Forest’s first and only ACC opponent in 2024. The Demon Deacons don’t figure to be much of a threat. Picked to finish 15th in the ACC preseason poll by the media. Ole Miss has no problems.

Vs. Georgia Southern, September 21

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

Georgia Southern threw the ball more than 60% of the time in 2023 under head coach Clay Helton. Expect them to be just as pass happy against the Rebels, when they likely fall behind early. Rebels win in their last game before SEC conference play begins.

Vs. Kentucky, September 28

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

Bob Stoops will employ the services of Georgia transfer Brock Vandagriff as starting quarterback, but will the Wildcats have enough answers offensively to match the 16th best scoring offense from a year ago or move the ball on a defense that was a top 35 unit in the country? Doubtful.

Vs. South Carolina, October 5

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

South Carolina figures to be towards the bottom of the SEC in the fourth year of Shane Beamer’s tenure as head coach. Even with this matchup being on the road, the Rebels should roll in Columbia.

At #13 LSU, October 13

Avery: win

Rachel: loss

Caleb: win

LSU will have a lot to prove. A great year with the best offense in 2023 saw them lose Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and first round draft talents Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr at receiver to the NFL. Garrett Nussmeier will have the benefit of a great offensive line, but will his defense’s poor secondary fail him? Avery and Caleb say Ole Miss cage the Tigers. Rachel thinks LSU prevails in Death Valley.

Vs. #16 Oklahoma, October 26

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

Brent Venables enters his third year as head coach in Norman. The Sooners figure to be contenders in the SEC at some point, maybe just not in year one. Expect a potential shootout in the Oxford as both offenses averaged at least 35 points a game in 2023.

At Arkansas, November 2

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

After what could be a barnburner against Oklahoma, Ole Miss will face an Arkansas squad that won just one conference game a year ago. Expect Ole Miss to be undaunted by the Razorbacks home crowd and get the job done.

Vs. #1 Georgia, November 9

Avery: loss

Rachel: loss

Caleb: loss

Georgia throttled Ole Miss in Athens, 52-17 in 2023. The Bulldogs are picked to win the conference again and own a 9-1 record in the last 10 matchups against the Rebeles. If Ole Miss wants to win the SEC’s automatic bid to the College Football Playoff, it may have to beat Georgia not once, but twice. They’ll get the first chance in Oxford.

At Florida, November 23

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

After what’s sure to be a tough matchup against Georgia, Ole Miss will have a week’s break with a bye week before they face Florida in The Swamp. While The Swamp is one of the most intimidating places to play in the SEC, the Gators just have not quite figured it out under Billy Napier. Rebels win by 10 points or more.

Vs. Mississippi State, November 29

Avery: win

Rachel: win

Caleb: win

2023’s edition of the Egg Bowl ended up being more of a defensive battle than most Rebel fans would have liked. Mississippi State is rebuilding under new head coach and former Oklahoma and Ole Miss offensive coordinator, Jeff Lebby. While their offense may be improved (Oklahoma was No. 3 in scoring offense in 2023), the Rebels should overwhelm a team looking to find its footing.

Final Predictions

Avery: 11-1

Rachel: 10-2

Caleb: 11-1

Whether the Rebels go 11-1 or 10-2, both results should have them firmly planted in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. If they can play their way into the SEC Championship and win it, they will have the conference’s automatic bid. Even if they don’t land in Atlanta in December, there’s a good chance they could still land a bid in spots five through 12.