A popular phrase throughout the “Star Wars” franchise is “The Force is strong in this game.” Well, if Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin If we look through this year’s Lindy’s Sports college football preview magazine, it might be said that “rat poison” is strong in this one.
With the summer months now here and the calendar firmly set on June, these national preview magazines will begin to roll out as precursors to preseason polls and All-American lists.
The Rebels continue to receive high praise and national expectations continue to rise, with Lindy’s annual number being no different, starting with a No. 5 ranking in his preseason Top 10.
Considered a winner in the transfer portal along with Florida State and Ohio State, Ole Miss is a solid player in the College Football Playoff when it comes to Lindy.
According to Lindy’s, the Rebels will finish the season ranked No. 7 in the CFP and will host 10th-seeded Notre Dame in Oxford in the first round. No score is given in the magazine’s CFP predictions, but the Rebels are picked to beat the Fighting Irish and advance to the second round, where the New Year’s Six Bowls become the home sites.
Unfortunately, that’s where Lindy’s sees Ole Miss and its 2024 season ending, losing to the Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl. The magazine picks Ohio State to make it all the way to the CFP national title game and lose to Georgia, 27-17 (the only game for which a predicted score was provided).
Ahead of the playoffs, Ole Miss has scheduled some of the best games in the Southeastern Conference during the regular season, according to Lindy’s. The Rebels’ home game against No. 8 Georgia and trip to No. 13 LSU are among the top 15 national conference games of the season.
“With the best team the Rebels have ever assembled in school history, this team appears to have playoff DNA,” the magazine said. “With Captain Portal and the program’s efforts in evaluating players and securing a deal with a high-profile transfer group, Lane Kiffin has the makings of a great fit at Oxford.”
There are also plenty of individual praise for Ole Miss players scattered throughout the magazine.
Heisman Trophy buzz for senior quarterback Jaxson Dart is not going to go away, but will only intensify if other media outlets share Lindy’s sentiment. Already a candidate for college football’s most prestigious award in Las Vegas, Dart should start receiving more similar praise in print.
Dart is No. 6 on Lindy’s Heisman watch list.
“The Rebels could roar in 2024, which puts Dart on track for Heisman love as he should surpass his 2023 totals of 3,364 yards and 23 TDs while guiding Ole Miss to the playoffs.
Lindy’s also rates Dart as the fifth-best quarterback in next spring’s NFL draft, behind Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Georgia’s Carson Beck, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Texas’ Quinn Ewers.
Wide receiver Tre Harris earned a spot on Lindy’s preseason All-American second team
On the defensive side, Ole Miss’ two key newcomers are also getting plenty of praise. Texas A&M transfer Walter Nolen and transfer to Florida Princely Umanmielen are considered the most notable transfers No. 3 and 7 in Lindy’s top 15 list.
Umanmielen earned a preseason second-team All-American honor on defense.
Defensive end Kam Franklin is ranked No. 78 on Lindy’s Top 100 Freshmen and the only Rebel to make the list.
