Ole Miss Football: Best and worst case scenario for 2018

Ole Miss football appointed formerly interim coach Matt Luke to lead the Rebels into 2018. What are the best and worst case scenarios for the Rebels this year?

The biggest story of the offseason for the Rebels revolved around a player that is no longer on their roster. Former Ole Miss quarterback Shea Patterson announced his intention to transfer to Michigan, winning the right to play immediately and forgo a season on the bench.

The truth is, Patterson might not have been the starting quarterback at Ole Miss had he chosen to stay. Jordan Ta’amu took the job over midway through last season after Patterson was sidelined with an injury. He won the Rebels’ only conference game and was by-and-large a more productive player than Patterson.

He’ll be tasked with the thankless task of leading the bowl-banned Rebels into 2018. Here’s how that could play out for Ole Miss football.

Best case scenario

• Sep 1 – vs Texas Tech – L
• Sep 8 – @ Southern Illinois – W
• Sep 15 – vs Alabama – L
• Sep 22 – @ Kent State – W
• Sep 29 – vs LSU – L
• Oct 6 – vs Louisiana-Monroe – W
• Oct 13 – vs Arkansas – W
• Oct 20 – vs Auburn – L
• Nov 3 – vs South Carolina – L
• Nov 10 – vs Texas A&M – L
• Nov 17 – @ Vanderbilt – W
• Nov 22 – @ Mississippi State – W

Result: 6-6

Somehow Ole Miss found a way to reach 6-6 last season. It took a win in their Super Bowl, the annual “Egg Bowl” against rival Mississippi State to get there. It’s going to take a similar upset again this year.

Outside of Mississippi State, conference wins over Vanderbilt and Arkansas are the only games that seem within reach. If Ta’amu can continue to connect with first-round talent A.J. Brown deep down the field this team could knock off some legitimate bowl contenders.

Worst case scenario

• Sep 1 – vs Texas Tech – L
• Sep 8 – @ Southern Illinois – W
• Sep 15 – vs Alabama – L
• Sep 22 – @ Kent State – W
• Sep 29 – vs LSU – L
• Oct 6 – vs Louisiana-Monroe – L
• Oct 13 – vs Arkansas – L
• Oct 20 – vs Auburn – L
• Nov 3 – vs South Carolina – L
• Nov 10 – vs Texas A&M – L
• Nov 17 – @ Vanderbilt – L
• Nov 22 – @ Mississippi State – L

Result: 2-10

Solitary wins over Kent State and Southern Illinois result in the kind of post-season discussion that cost coaches their jobs. The odds are stacked against Ole Miss once again in 2018, but it was of their own duty. The time to start rebuilding is now.

An ever-tough SEC slate won’t throw Ole Miss any favors. Even their easiest game of the season against Vanderbilt comes on the road. The schedule did not break well for the Rebels in 2018 and the results could be a forgettable season with bowl eligibility set to return next season.