Ole Miss Football Climbs in ESPN’s Updated FPI Rankings Ahead of 2025 Season

OXFORD, Miss. — The latest edition of ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has arrived, and Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels are on the move. Updated for the first time since June, the new rankings show the Rebels climbing three spots to No. 10 nationally, solidifying their place in the early College Football Playoff conversation.

Ole Miss Moves Into the Top 10

After a 10-win season in 2024 capped off with a Gator Bowl appearance, Ole Miss enters 2025 with plenty of intrigue. ESPN’s computers clearly like what Coach Kiffin has built in Oxford, slotting the Rebels just behind SEC rivals Texas A&M and Tennessee in the latest FPI update.

The rise is fueled by the confidence surrounding quarterback Austin Simmons, who is set to take the reins as the Rebels’ starter. Simmons has impressed throughout camp with his arm talent and poise. As offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. explained last week, Ole Miss will lean into Simmons’ strengths while continuing to expand his game.

The Transfer Portal Effect

Another reason for the Rebels’ Top 10 bump? The way Kiffin and his staff once again dominated the transfer portal. While replacing stars like Jaxson Dart and several key pieces in the secondary, Ole Miss reloaded with proven playmakers across the board.

From bolstering the defensive backfield to adding competition in the quarterback room with Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss, the Rebels didn’t just fill gaps — they added depth and versatility to one of the SEC’s most talented rosters.

SEC Heavyweights Still in the Way

The road to the CFP remains brutal. The FPI has Texas at No. 1, Georgia at No. 2, and Alabama at No. 3 — all programs that Ole Miss may have to face or outlast if it wants to make a playoff push. Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU, South Carolina, and Florida also appear in the Top 25, underscoring just how stacked the SEC will be once again.

Still, with the Rebels cracking the Top 10, Ole Miss fans have every reason to believe this team will be right in the thick of the postseason conversation.

ESPN’s Updated FPI Top 25 (Preseason 2025)

1. Texas

2. Georgia

3. Alabama

4. Ohio State

5. Penn State

6. Notre Dame (+1)

7. Oregon (-1)

8. Tennessee (+2)

9. Texas A&M (-1)

10. Ole Miss (+3)

11. South Carolina (+4)

12. LSU

13. Florida (+5)

14. USC (+4)

15. Michigan (+2)

16. Clemson (-5)

17. Miami (-8)

18. Kansas State (+3)

19. SMU (+1)

20. Oklahoma (-4)

21. Auburn (-7)

22. BYU (NR)

23. Missouri

24. Arizona State

25. Indiana (NR)

Looking Ahead

The Rebels open their 2025 season on Saturday, August 30th, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium against Georgia State, a chance for Simmons and the retooled roster to show why ESPN’s metrics are bullish on Oxford.

If the FPI is any indication, Kiffin’s squad isn’t just aiming for another 10-win season — they’re chasing something bigger.