Ole Miss Football: Ranking 2020 opponents by toughness

While Baylor is an out-of-conference foe, there will be a great deal of familiarity between it and Ole Miss in 2020. After years of coordinating dominant defenses in Baton Rouge, Dave Aranda left LSU to become the head coach in Waco this offseason.

Aranda looks to continue the momentum started by Matt Rhule, who left Waco to join the NFL ranks as the head man for the Carolina Panthers. The Bears won 11 games in 2019, and while most of the offense returns, just two defensive starters are back.

That is why this team will be so tough to deal with in 2020. Aranda will give the reigns of an offense that features Charlie Brewer, John Lovett, and Tyquan Thornton to offensive play-caller Larry Fedora. Meanwhile, Aranda and Ron Roberts will rebuild this defense around defensive playmaker Terrel Bernard, who had 112 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and a pick a season ago.

Auburn will be a difficult team to deal with in 2020. Yes, they may be dealing with the departures of Derrick Brown, Noah Igbinoghene, Marlon Davidson, and several other key Tigers, but growth at key positions will keep Gus Malzahn’s team near the top of the SEC West.

The most important of those positions is obviously quarterback. Bo Nix had his ups and downs as a freshman, but there was encouraging improvement in the back half of the year that suggests he’ll only get better as he gains experience.

The anchor at center, Nick Brahms, will be key in guiding the offensive line tasked with protecting Nix. On the outside, Seth Williams, Anthony Schwartz and Eli Stove will give Nix one of the nation’s fastest receiving groups.

The defense will be led by Big Kat Bryant, KJ Britt and Christian Tutt, and despite key departures, Kevin Steele’s track record on the plains is a reliable one.