Ole Miss Football: 3 reasons NCAA sanctions doom the Rebels

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AUBURN, AL – OCTOBER 07: Nick Coe #91 of the Auburn Tigers tackles D’Vaughn Pennamon #28 of the Mississippi Rebels at Jordan Hare Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. Ole Miss has already struggled in a loaded SEC West

Even without scholarship limitations Ole Miss has struggled in the SEC West. In fact, if you go back to the start of the divisions, the Rebels have just one title and no SEC Championship wins. They also only finished higher than third, outside of the division title, two times.

This is with Hugh Freeze recruiting at a high level over the past few years and that’s going to take a major hit now that the scholarship restrictions are being levied by the NCAA. That essentially knocks Ole Miss down a few pegs in an already-loaded division.

Looking at the division, there are only a couple of teams the Rebels might match up well with in the coming years. Mississippi State is under new direction with Dan Mullen gone, Arkansas is looking for a new coach as well and Texas A&M is in that same boat.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, none of those teams are facing restrictions and each, outside of Mississippi State, is getting an upgrade at head coach — although Arkansas and Gus Malzahn is just a rumor right now. Add Auburn, LSU and Alabama to the mix and the Rebels will struggle with these 13 scholarships being docked and a program falling on hard times.

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