Ole Miss rises to sixth in latest CFP rankings

The College Football Playoff selection committee did not penalize Ole Miss following the surprising exit of former coach Lane Kiffin to LSU in its second to last rankings on Tuesday.

In fact, the committee elevated the Rebels one position to sixth in the rankings after their 38-19 win against rival Mississippi State in last week’s Egg Bowl.

Officials at Ole Miss were worried that the selection committee might lower their ranking after Kiffin left for their SEC rival on Sunday, potentially jeopardizing their chances of hosting a first-round CFP game later this month.

«Clearly, our team is still together,» Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter told ESPN on Tuesday. «Our players are energized and prepared. We have an excellent staff primed for the playoff journey.»

Undefeated Ohio State and Indiana remain at the top two spots, followed by No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Texas Tech, and No. 5 Oregon. The Bulldogs, Red Raiders, and Ducks moved up one slot after the previously unbeaten Texas A&M was defeated 27-17 by Texas last week.

Texas A&M dropped four positions after experiencing its first loss of the season, now sitting just behind Ole Miss, with Oklahoma, Alabama, and Notre Dame completing the top ten.

BYU was ranked 11th, and Miami held the 12th position.

As it stands, Ohio State, Indiana, Georgia, and Texas Tech would be awarded first-round byes under the current rankings. The first-round matchups would be: Tulane at Oregon; Virginia at Ole Miss; Notre Dame at Texas A&M; and Alabama at Oklahoma.

JMU, North Texas, Iowa and Houston make an appearance in this week’s CFP Top 25 👏

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The Cougars and Hurricanes would be excluded from the playoff field if Tuesday’s rankings were applied to the 12-team playoff format. No. 17 Virginia would take BYU’s place as the projected ACC champion; No. 20 Tulane would take Miami’s spot as the highest-ranked champion from a non-power four conference.

The final CFP rankings will be revealed on Sunday.

How the selection committee would view the Rebels was one of the major considerations for this week’s rankings. Ole Miss achieved 11 victories in the regular season for the first time in its history, with its sole loss occurring on the road against Georgia, 43-35 on Oct. 18. The Rebels have secured five consecutive wins since that setback.

«I believe these players should be assessed based on their performance on the field, and 11-1 speaks volumes,» Carter stated. «I would hope the committee acknowledges the data at hand and rewards these young men for an outstanding season.»

Kiffin departed Ole Miss before the conclusion of his sixth season there, signing a seven-year contract with LSU that positions him among the highest-paid coaches in the FBS. He took several assistant coaches with him to Baton Rouge on Sunday.

On Tuesday, LSU declared that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., the main play-caller this season, would be permitted to return to Ole Miss for the CFP.

«I have already informed the committee of this, and I am hopeful this decision will enable Ole Miss to achieve the highest ranking possible because these exceptional players deserve it,» Kiffin expressed in a statement. «I’m thrilled that Charlie will return to assist in coaching the greatest team in Ole Miss history.»

Texas rose three spots to No. 13 after its victory over the Aggies, followed by Vanderbilt and Utah. USC was positioned at No. 16, with Virginia, Arizona, Michigan, and Tulane wrapping up the top 20. Houston, Georgia Tech, Iowa, North Texas, and James Madison were ranked 21st to 25th.

The Cougars, Hawkeyes, Green Machine, and Dukes were newcomers to the rankings. Meanwhile, Tennessee, Arizona State, SMU, and Pittsburgh dropped out after losses last week.

With both Tulane and North Texas representing the American Athletic Conference, and James Madison included from the Sun Belt Conference, there is potential for two champions from the Group of Five leagues to secure spots in the 12-team playoff for the first time—if five-loss Duke upsets Virginia in Saturday’s ACC championship game.

Miami stands as the highest-ranked team from the ACC, but the Hurricanes did not qualify for the league’s title match.

Notre Dame lost to Miami 27-24 in the opener on Aug. 31, yet the Fighting Irish remain two positions ahead of the Hurricanes, even though both teams boast identical 10-2 records. Both teams have finalized their regular seasons.