Ole Miss ranked No. 9 in preseason AP Poll

Ole Miss has been ranked No. 9 in the 2026 preseason AP Poll, marking only the third time the program has opened in the top 10 since 1971. The ranking follows a record-breaking 2025 season where the Rebels achieved 13 wins and their first College Football Playoff appearance.

Under head coach Pete Golding, the team enters the season with a highly regarded roster, including quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. The program also secured the nation’s No. 2 transfer portal class this offseason.

Additionally, a recent court ruling in Louisiana has granted injunctions to 16 former college players, including former Ole Miss starters Dae’quan Wright, Zxavian Harris, and Wydett Williams. This ruling allows these players to return to college football this fall or transfer to new programs. While Wright is currently competing for a roster spot with the Cleveland Browns, the ruling provides the possibility for these athletes to rejoin the Rebels' roster.