Is Ole Miss heading for its first SEC title in 61 years?

Is Ole Miss heading for its first SEC title in 61 years? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Ole Miss Rebels won their last SEC football championship when a gallon of gas cost 29 cents. The year was 1963. Now the team is sitting pretty with a 5-0 start and all the signs of a team on the up.

When the Rebels lost 14 starters, including their star quarterback, to the NFL draft after last season and were projected as a 7th overall finish in the SEC. Wins against Georgia State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tulane and a convincing beatdown of LSU has now turned the tides, landing on the #1 spot in SEC power rankings and predictions of an 11-1 record.

One clear obstacle towards the path of a first overall finish is a slate of tough road games. The rest of their season’s path would go through games against Georgia, Oklahoma, and rival Mississippi State, where they have to win to secure their spot in the SEC Championship game.

Another looming issue is the state of quarterback Austin Simmons. While Trinidad Chambliss has been excellent this season, having thrown for over 1,000 yards and running for nearly 300 more, the question remains as to what the quarterback room will look like once Simmons is back in action and who Lane Kiffin decides to stick with.

In the best-case scenario, the Rebels could win all their remaining games, finishing the season at 12-0, which would not only break the curse but would also lock up a top seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. 

A more likely outcome is the Rebels can finish the season 11-1 or 10-2, as the schedule is just that tough. And a one- or two-loss season will hopefully allow them to host a first-round playoff game in Oxford, thanks to the new 12-team playoff system. Even with two losses, their huge win over LSU will surely help them get into the playoffs. 

However, if the Rebels stumble down the stretch, a 9-3 season would likely knock them out of the playoff hunt. Losing all three road games can only result in those kinds of possibilities.