For the first time in three years, Coach Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels will be without Jaxson Dart at quarterback, but that doesn’t slow down the hype around Lane Train as the Rebels look to continue the momentum into the 2025 season. Despite missing the ultimate goal of reaching the College Football Playoff, the Rebels travelled to Jacksonville to take on the Duke Blue Devils in the Gator Bowl, where the Rebels earned their 10th win for the third time under Head Coach Lane Kiffin. With a new season on the horizon, the Rebels are in a position to take that next step, earning a bid to the College Football Playoff.

There isn’t as much off-season hype surrounding the 2025 Ole Miss Rebels. Still, Coach Kiffin has a roster that he likes and believes can take the Rebels to that next level, where they’re not only knocking off the likes of Georgia and South Carolina but also finishing the job and giving the program a shot at winning a National Championship. Last season, the Rebels finished the regular season with a 9-3 record. They were on the outside looking in of the College Football Playoff after losses to LSU and Florida, followed by a season-defining home loss to Kentucky. This team finished the Southeastern Conference slate with only one win. This season will be all about finishing the job and doing what it takes not to drop games to two teams the Rebels have no business losing to.

With Jaxson Dart off to the New York Giants, the Austin Simmons era is underway in Oxford, as the hype around Simmons has reached an all-time high for a first-time starter. Simmons has a lot of talent, but his lack of game-time experience is a minor concern for Rebel Nation heading into the 2025 season. However, if there’s a coach who gets his starter ready for the spotlight, it’s Coach Kiffin. Austin Simmons will face the fire early with a road game at Kentucky in week two, followed by back-to-back weekends of Arkansas, Tulane, and LSU. As the season progresses, we’ll see the progression of Austin Simmons as he starts his journey to becoming the next Ole Miss legend.

On the defensive side of the ball, Ole Miss returns two starters at linebacker in TJ Dottery and Suntarine Perkins. Ole Miss brought in Pricewell Umanmielen and Da’Shawn Womack to plug some holes in the defense that got left behind by the departing Landsharks from last season.

Overall, after going all in last season, there’s a good chance that the 2025 Ole Miss Rebels take that next step and earn a trip to the College Football Playoff. Even with the demanding schedule, the path to ten wins is there, and the development of Austin Simmons is likely there. The 2025 season will likely come down to the same two games as last season: a road game at Kentucky and a home game against Florida in November. A win in those two games, and the Rebels could finally fulfill their journey to the College Football Playoff.

Ole Miss will open the season on August 30th against Georgia State inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Photo Credits- Ole Miss Football on X