Ole Miss

The Rebels enter 2026 navigating uncharted waters after Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU, with first-time head coach Pete Golding tasked with maintaining momentum from an 11-1 season capped by a playoff victory over Georgia. Ole Miss lands at ninth nationally in JP+ (+18.7), powered by an elite offense that ranks fifth (+11.9) and the nation's top special teams unit (+1.2), though the defense sits just 20th (+5.6). Trinidad Chambliss takes over at quarterback from NFL-bound Jaxson Dart, while the Rebels address roster turnover through the portal — losing backup quarterback Austin Simmons and receiver Cayden Lee to Missouri, but adding Syracuse transfer Johntay Cook (31.5 PPA) to bolster the receiving corps alongside fellow Syracuse transfer Darrell Gill Jr.

JP+ projects 8.1 wins for the Rebels, who face their toughest tests on the road at Texas and Oklahoma while hosting former coach Kiffin's LSU squad in what promises to be a charged atmosphere. The offense should remain explosive under Chambliss, but questions linger about whether Golding can maintain the program's upward trajectory in his first season as a head coach at this level. If the defense improves and Chambliss seamlessly steps into Dart's role, Ole Miss could challenge for double-digit wins again. If the coaching transition creates early-season turbulence, the Rebels risk falling short of their recent standard in an unforgiving SEC.