Twelve Saturdays remain until the return of college football. Ole Miss has 91 days, specifically.
But who’s counting, right?
Turns out, pretty much everyone.
Just this week times and TV assignments were announced by the SEC for the Rebels’ 2024 games with Furman, Middle Tennessee, Wake Forest and Mississippi State. Most notably, the Egg Bowl was moved off Thanksgiving and to Black Friday (November 29).
Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC. The in-state rivals have played on Friday just five times in history. The last was 2008. Ole Miss, last season, hosted ULM the Saturday before the Egg Bowl. The Rebels travel to Florida this year.
“I think it’s set up better,” Kiffin said ahead of last season’s Egg Bowl. “We were very disappointed in that setup. So, glad this year is much more equal from a setup standpoint about when we’re playing and the type of team we’re playing.”
On3 national college football analysts recently ranked Ole Miss a consensus Top 10 team entering 2024.
The Rebels, who won a program-record 11 games last season, get the season started with back-to-back home games. Ole Miss opens with Furman on August 31 — the first-ever meeting between the schools.
Middle Tennessee follows on September 7 at 3:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network. The Rebels and Blue Raiders last faced off in 2001. Ole Miss won, on Homecoming, 45-17.
Ole Miss hits the road for the first time September 14, traveling to Wake Forest for the first time since 2008 for a 5:30 p.m. CT kick on The CW.
“Coming off their best season in school history (11-2), the Rebels have gone all-in on making the CFP and competing for an SEC Championship this fall,” On3’s Jess Simonton wrote recently, in placing Ole Miss No. 6. “Lane Kiffin did yeoman’s work retaining the key portions of Ole Miss’ roster and adding star transfers like Walter Nolen and Juice Wells. During the spring, the Rebels grabbed a pair of tailbacks to supplement the offense’s lone weakness.
“If a defense full of mercenary transfers can coalesce, Ole Miss will top last year’s historic season.”
PicKell had Ole Miss No. 5, while Andy Staples had the lowest projection, at No. 9.
“This roster is good enough to compete for the national title,” Staples said previously in evaluating the Rebels. The Rebels appeared in two New Year’s Six bowl games the last three years.
“But the games against Alabama and Georgia last season showed exactly where the Rebels need to improve if they want to reach the level of those two programs. Not many teams can get appreciably better on the line of scrimmage through the transfer portal, but Ole Miss may have pulled it off.
“The Rebels get a visit from Georgia this year, but other than that, the schedule is manageable compared to some others in the SEC. Anything less than a playoff berth for Ole Miss would be a crushing disappointment.”
The post Countdown Continues: 91 days until the return of Ole Miss football appeared first on On3.