Ole Miss lands at No. 22 in Coaches’ preseason poll

The USA Today preseason college football coaches’ poll was released on Monday with the Ole Miss Rebels landing a spot in the Top 25, coming in at No. 22.

While the poll means little since no team has yet to take a snap, it is telling in that it provides a glimpse into how the randomly selected panel of 63 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools grade this year’s teams across the nation. Of note, Southern Miss Head Coach Will Hall was among the Board of Coaches voting in the poll.

Ole Miss opened the 2022 season as No. 24 before going 7-0 but losing five of their last six games. The Rebels were unranked to end last season.

Since then, Head Coach Lane Kiffin’s combined use of the transfer portal and high school recruiting has added depth to the Rebels ahead of the 2023 season. According to On3, Ole Miss ranks 11th in positive transfer portal utilization since the Rebels rank 23rd for high school recruiting per 247 Sports.

Ole Miss opens the 2023 season at home in Oxford versus Mercer on September 2nd.

While Ole Miss was the highest ranked Mississippi school, Mississippi State’s team finished 42nd in the 2023 preseason poll, outside of the Top 25.

Mississippi State began the 2022 season unranked but won four of their last five games, closing the season ranked No. 19. The Bulldogs, under first year Head Coach Zach Arnett, are ranked 27th by 247 Sports in high school recruiting and 33rd in transfer portal utilization by On3 this off-season.

Mississippi State opens their 2023 campaign against Southeastern Louisiana on September 2nd at home in Starkville.

Here’s the complete USA Today Top 25 preseason coaches’ poll:

1. Georgia

2. Michigan

3. Alabama

4. Ohio State

5. LSU

6. USC

7. Penn State

8. Florida State

9. Clemson

10. Tennessee

11. Washington

12. Texas

13. Notre Dame

14. Utah

15. Oregon

16. TCU

17. Kansas State

18. Oregon State

19. Oklahoma

20. North Carolina

21. Wisconsin

22. Ole Miss

23. Tulane

24. Texas Tech

25. Texas A&M