ESPN’s Chris Low and Fox’s Joel Klatt Look for Big Things from Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Football in 2024
OXFORD, Miss. — The college football spring period is officially over following the closing of the transfer portal on May 1. Despite Ole Miss losing seven players to the portal in the spring cycle, the Rebels maintained a majority of this year’s key pieces while adding two highly-touted running backs and a stud cornerback. (Check out our Transfer Portal Tracker HERE),
With the offseason success continuing to flow in Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin’s direction, College Football Playoff analyst Joel Klatt and Chris Low of ESPN had some interesting words recently for Coach Kiffin and this year’s Ole Miss football team — with both agreeing the Rebels are a team to watch in 2024 and one mentioning something that could potentially slow down the Lane Train.
Joel Klatt – Fox Sports
According to Joel Klatt, the Rebs are the fifth-best team in the country, not just because of the simple fact that they have an incredibly talented roster and coaching staff. For Klatt, Ole Miss’ schedule plays a large part in his decision.
“The schedule is backloaded, but it’s not that bad. Oklahoma and Georgia at home and a road game at LSU. They don’t have to run through the SEC gauntlet like Oklahoma does, so their schedule is beneficial.“
~ Klatt on the Rebels’ schedule
There's arguably not a more favorable schedule for a College Football Playoff hopeful than what Ole Miss faces this season.
Seriously, what's the FLOOR for the Rebels this fall?
Seems like anything less than a double digit win season would be a MASSIVE disappointment. pic.twitter.com/dhDYOlaPeM
— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) March 25, 2024
Not only does Klatt find this true, but many analysts agree with most suggestion the Rebs should be favored in every single game next season, with the exception of their matchups against LSU, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
Chris Low – ESPN
Like Klatt, ESPN’s Chris Low also believes the Rebels are ready to make a run in 2024, partly because of the talent Kiffin and company have amassed and retained and partly because their schedule is favorable.
ESPN’s Chris Low believes the Rebels are ready to make the #CFP in 2024.
“[Lane] Kiffin has pumped life into an Ole Miss program that has improved in all facets, and as schedules go in 2024, the Rebels appear to have one of the more manageable ones in the SEC.” -Chris Low, ESPN pic.twitter.com/J6LUWrlWnJ
— College Football Nation (@CFBNatty) February 5, 2024
Although the Rebels are ranked at the No. 6 spot in ESPN’s preseason rankings, Low discusses a valid argument as to what could potentially slow down the Rebs, stating that because of the talent and experience headed to the field this fall, the pressure and rat poison could affect the players.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if Ole Miss winds up in Atlanta” – @Andy_Staples
(Ignore the rat poison @Lane_Kiffin) pic.twitter.com/2wgV0ejfki
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) May 7, 2024
“But no matter how hard you downplay it, there’s a different dynamic to going out and performing at a high level when everybody expects it and is touts how good you are. This will be a different world for an Ole Miss team that enters 2024 with a ‘playoff-or-bust’ label.“
Chris Low
While Low certainly makes a fair point, Kiffin, along with players like Jaxson Dart, Jared Ivey, Tre Harris, JJ Pegues, Trey Washington, and others, appear to be the perfect men in charge of eliminating as much of the outside noise as possible and keeping the team focused.
Ole Miss is set to take the field on August 31 against Furman in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Be sure to stay tuned to The Rebel Walk for all of your Ole Miss sports needs and check out our YouTube Channel and subscribe for more info and interviews.
