The Grove Report

The Preseason Coaches Poll Ranking: Ole Miss Football Comes in at No. 15

Lane Kiffin and Co. come in at No. 15 heading into the 2025 season, expectations rising in Oxford.
Zack Nagy|
Jan 2, 2025; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin celebrates after beating the Duke Blue Devils in the Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Jan 2, 2025; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin celebrates after beating the Duke Blue Devils in the Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

In this story:

Ole Miss Rebels

NEW YORK – USA Today released the 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll on Monday, slotting Ole Miss at No. 15, its second straight top-15 ranking to open the season.

Lane Kiffin's squad is one of nine SEC teams in the preseason Top 25, alongside No. 1 Texas, No. 4 Georgia, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 LSU, No. 13 South Carolina, No. 17 Florida, No. 18 Tennessee and No. 21 Texas A&M. Oklahoma, Missouri, Auburn, Arkansas and Vanderbilt all received votes.

Ole Miss is coming off a second consecutive 10-win season and its third in a four-year span. The Rebels must replace its most NFL Draft selections in its current seven-round format, with eight players selected.

Kiffin and Co. reloaded with the No. 1 transfer class in the nation according to Rivals, as well as a top-25 freshman class.

The Returnee to Know: LB Suntarine Perkins

Perkins, already a preseason All-American by both Walter Camp (second-team) and Phil Steele (fourth-team) and a second-team media All-SEC selection, lit up the stat sheet for the powerful Rebel defense as a sophomore in 2024.

Perkins helped contribute to team program records in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), which both led the nation, ranking fourth on the team with 60 tackles while tying for the team lead in both TFL (14.0) and sacks (10.5).

Those 10.5 sacks ranked tied for second in Ole Miss single-season history, and his 14.0 TFL ranked tied for 10th all-time.

His most notable game last fall came against Oklahoma, where he notched 4.0 sacks – the most by a Rebel defender in a single game since 1993.

In two years as a Rebel, Perkins owns 98 total tackles, 19.5 TFL and 14.0 sacks across 26 games played and 10 starts.

More Ole Miss News:

Prized Ole Miss Football Wide Receiver Commit 'Locked in' With the Rebels

Ole Miss Football Quarterback Target Seeing Stock Soar After Elite 11 Performance

Ole Miss Women's Basketball Lands in Early Top-25, Named 'Offseason Winners'

Join the Community:

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and Ole Miss Rebels On SI: @OleMissOnSI for all coverage surrounding the Ole Miss program.

Published
Zack Nagy
ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of Ole Miss Rebels On SI, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Rebel Football, Baseball, Basketball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving Ole Miss athletics. Nagy has covered the Southeastern Conference for over half a decade after being born and raised in New Orleans (La.).

Share on XFollow znagy20
Home/Football