The Road Ahead: How Ole Miss Could Make a Playoff Run
Ole Miss is staring at a potential seven seed in the College Football Playoff, and the path ahead is challenging and full of opportunity. The Rebels could be tested in a first-round match up with Alabama at home in Oxford. If they survive that, a battle with undefeated Indiana would be next. While the Rebels are expected to miss the SEC Championship game, their resume should be strong enough to earn an at-large bid and enter the playoffs with a few weeks to recover and prepare for a postseason run.
A playoff push starts with a reliable top-tier quarterback, and Trinidad Chambliss has been nothing short of a superstar. His dual-threat ability had transformed the offense and turned the Rebels into a legitimate threat. In a rivalry win at Mississippi State, Chambliss erupted for 359 yards and four touchdowns in a dominant 38-19 win. If he played more in the first two games of the season, there's a real argument that he would be in the Heisman conversation with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions on the season.
While Chambliss lights up defenses through the air, Kewan Lacy has been a nightmare to stop on the ground. Lacy has been dominant all season long with 1136 rush yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the Rebels' ground attack. His explosiveness has sparked countless big plays and forced defenses to respect the Rebels' run game. With Lacy and Chambliss leading the offense, Ole Miss can control tempo, constantly attacking opposing defenses.
The biggest uncertainty for Ole Miss is head coach Lane Kiffin. With rumors surfacing linking him to the LSU head coaching job, there's a possibility that the Rebels could enter the playoffs without the mastermind behind their offense. A coaching change this late in the season could disrupt the play-calling and game planning in the playoffs. Most likely, Kiffin will stay with the Rebels as they push for a championship run. Ole Miss entered the postseason with just one loss on the season, and it came on the road against Georgia. That one blemish is not ideal, but should not affect the Rebels' playoff berth. Ole Miss has positioned itself as a team capable of competing with anyone in the postseason. With a high-powered, explosive offense, Ole Miss has the potential to make a deep playoff run, especially if Coach Lane Kiffin remains in Oxford to lead the team.
