Ole Miss finished 10-3 in 2024 and ranked No. 5 in FPI, but it still wasn’t enough to crack the College Football Playoff. With key players gone, was that their best chance?
Ole Miss Was Good in 2024 — Just Not Good Enough
For a team that’s been building momentum in the transfer portal and stacking double-digit win seasons, Ole Miss looked like a real contender in 2024. The Rebels finished 10-3, ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s Football Power Index, and once again showed they belong in the national conversation.
But here’s the kicker: they still didn’t make the College Football Playoff.
That stings — especially considering six teams made the CFP for the first time ever this year. Ole Miss? Still on the outside looking in.
“Was That Their Best Shot?” — A Legit Question
College football analyst Josh Pate didn’t mince words during a recent episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show.
“I’m asking myself, could they lose four of those games?” he said. “I think they could… But, I slightly lean worse than 9-3. I hope that’s not the case because at that point, you ask, ‘Did Ole Miss miss its best shot to do something in the playoff?’”
It’s a valid concern. Ole Miss had the talent, a top-tier transfer portal haul (again), and one of the most electric quarterbacks in the country. But now? That window might’ve just closed a bit.
Life Without Jaxson Dart Won’t Be Easy
Let’s talk about the big loss — Jaxson Dart. The star QB threw for 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns, and only six picks, while completing 69.3% of his passes. His play helped carry the Rebels and landed him a first-round selection by the New York Giants in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Replacing that kind of production isn’t plug-and-play.
And Dart wasn’t the only major departure.
Defense: From Dominant to Question Marks
Last year’s Ole Miss defense? One of the best in the country:
- No. 1 in sacks
- No. 2 in scoring defense
- No. 2 in rush defense
- No. 14 in total defense
But heading into 2025, things look a lot shakier. The Rebels return just 45% of their defensive production, ranking 104th nationally in that category.
One of the biggest losses is Walter Nolen, a game-wrecking DT who notched 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks before heading to the Arizona Cardinals as a first-round pick.
Oh, and five of the team’s top six sack producers? Gone.
The Road Ahead: Big Shoes to Fill and High Expectations
Ole Miss will need to quickly figure things out. The 2025 season opens at home vs. Georgia State on August 30, and even though it’s not a marquee opponent, it’ll be the first look at how the Rebels plan to reload.
After back-to-back top transfer portal classes, there’s talent in Oxford — no doubt. But the loss of star power on both sides of the ball means this year’s team might need time to gel, and the SEC doesn’t exactly give you much room to breathe.
Was 2024 Their Window?
In hindsight, 2024 might’ve been Ole Miss’s golden opportunity to finally crash the CFP party. They had the firepower, the experience, and the stats to back it up. But it just didn’t happen.
Now, the program faces a pivotal year — one where they’ll need to prove that 10-win seasons are the floor, not the ceiling.
The talent’s still there. The pressure? Bigger than ever.
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