SEC Football: Preseason power rankings for 2023 season
By Matt Melton
5. Ole Miss Rebels
We begin the top five of our 2023 SEC football preseason power rankings with Ole Miss at No. 5, as the Rebels are entering year four under head coach Lane Kiffin.
Similar to Kentucky, the Rebels are also coming off a bit of a down 2022, which included a rough finish to the year to conclude the season at 8-5 overall, as well as 4-4 in SEC play. Despite being only the Rebels second-straight 8+ win season since 2015, one that concluded with a loss in the Texas Bowl, this was a year after Ole Miss won 10 games during the 2022 campaign, a year that also included a 6-2 mark in SEC play.
Headlining the Rebels returning names on offense is arguably the conference’s top running back in sophomore Quinshon Judkins, who returns alongside quarterback Jaxson Dart, among others. On defense, the likes of Ashanti Cistrunk, Isheem Young, Ladarius Tennison, and more are also back to lead the Rebels on that side of the ball.
Similar to last offseason, Ole Miss has a large transfer portal class that could make an impact this season, with some of the biggest names that of UTSA wide receiver Zakhari Franklin, Louisville linebacker Monty Montgomery, and Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders, among others. The Rebels also have a few names that are likely to see the field from their freshman class, with none bigger than that of linebacker Suntarine Perkins.
Ole Miss will officially open their 2023 season at home in Week 1 against Mercer.