No. 9 Ole Miss football was aiming for a spot in the College Football Playoff after a significant win against then-No. 2 Georgia two weeks ago. However, following a disappointing 24-17 loss at unranked Florida, the Rebels find themselves in a precarious position, facing a possible exit from playoff contention for the fifth straight season under head coach Lane Kiffin.
Before the loss, Ole Miss held a respectable ranking in the CFP top 25 and had a 65.9% chance of making the playoff, according to ESPN’s College Football Power Index. The task ahead was simple: win their remaining games against Florida and Mississippi State to solidify their chances for the inaugural 12-team playoff, irrespective of their performance in the SEC Championship.
With the recent defeat, however, the Rebels’ playoff odds plummeted to just 4%, a steep decline of 80 percentage points. Had they secured the win over Florida, their playoff chances would have soared to 84%. Currently, Ole Miss is projected to fall outside the playoff picture and is likely to be among the “first teams out” cut from the finalized bracket.
The Rebels’ hopes of qualifying as a conference champion are similarly bleak. Their three losses in conference play have left them at a disadvantage against several one- and two-loss teams within the SEC. To reach the SEC Championship, Ole Miss would need to win against Mississippi State and rely on a series of unlikely outcomes involving other teams, none of which is within their control.
The Rebels’ final showdown is set against Mississippi State next Friday for the annual Egg Bowl. Even a victory in that game would leave Ole Miss with a 4-3 conference record, which may not be enough to secure a position in Atlanta for the SEC Championship.
While the loss to Florida was a significant setback, there is still an opportunity for Ole Miss to finish strong in the regular season. A decisive win over their rivals in the Egg Bowl could provide a morale boost heading into the offseason. The focus will need to shift towards building for the future, as there are valuable lessons to be learned from this season’s challenges.
Summary: Ole Miss football’s hopes of entering the College Football Playoff were severely impacted by a loss to Florida, reducing their chances to just 4%. With a tough road ahead in the SEC, they need to focus on their next game against Mississippi State to finish the season positively.