Ole Miss finishes No. 3 in Final AP Football Rankings, Marks Highest Finish Since 1962

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss football capped off one of the most memorable seasons in program history by finishing No. 3 in the final Associated Press Top 25 college football poll, the team’s highest final ranking since 1962.

The final AP poll, released following Indiana’s national championship win, placed the Hoosiers at No. 1, Miami at No. 2 and the Rebels at No. 3 to close the 2025 season.

Ole Miss’ No. 3 finish is a watershed moment for a program that has steadily continued to rise — and one that won two college football playoff games under head coach Pete Golding. Prior to this year, the last time the Rebels landed that high in the final AP rankings was 1962, when an undefeated Ole Miss team finished third after a perfect 10-0 season and win in the Sugar Bowl — a benchmark that stood untouched for more than six decades.

In 1959 and 1960, the Rebels finished No. 2 in the country with a 10-1 finish and 10-0-1 finish, respectively, and won the Sugar both years.

The 2025 Ole Miss squad delivered one of the most electric seasons in school history, finishing with a 13-2 overall record, highlighted by marquee wins over top-10 opponents and a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals where they lost a fourth-quarter thriller to Miami. Throughout the year, the Rebels consistently climbed the national polls, rewarding a relentless mix of offensive firepower and defensive grit.

The complete AP Final Top 25 for 2025 is as follows: 

1. Indiana
2. Miami
3. Ole Miss
4. Oregon
5. Ohio State
6. Georgia
7. Texas Tech
8. Texas A&M
9. Alabama
10. Notre Dame
11. BYU
12. Texas
13. Oklahoma
14. Utah
15. Vanderbilt
16. Virginia
17. Iowa
18. Tulane
19. James Madison
20. USC
21. Michigan
22. Houston
23. Navy
24. North Texas
25. TCU

At the heart of this season — for the team and for Coach Golding — was a belief that Ole Miss could compete with anyone — and the final AP ranking validated that confidence. The No. 3 spot not only reflects the Rebels’ body of work on the field but also signals a new era of national relevance for a program that has battled through ups and downs in the modern era of college football.

For Rebel fans, the finish represents both a historic achievement and a launching pad. With some key players expected to return — like quarterback Trinidad Chambliss should he win his NCAA appeal or his lawsuit filed in Lafayette County — as many within the program expect him to do — running back Kewan Lacy and much of the defensive line — along with the No. 2 transfer portal class in the nation, expectations in Oxford have never been higher.

The 2025 campaign will be remembered not just for where it ended, but for how it reshaped the expectations of Rebel football.