Two things were said about Ole Miss in the last 24 hours and they point in opposite directions. AP voters opened the Rebels at No. 9. A national columnist said a step back is understandable. This episode takes both seriously. Take one: nine is exactly right, and being ranked correctly is a bigger milestone for this program than being ranked high. The resume says third — 13-2, a Playoff semifinal, No. 3 in the final AP poll. The question says three games, which is Pete Golding's entire head coaching sample. Brett Ciancia of Pick Six Previews independently landed on 10th nationally and fourth in the SEC, and ESPN's draft-talent tiers put Ole Miss alongside Ohio State and Georgia. Three separate methods, same answer.
Two things were said about Ole Miss in the last 24 hours and they point in opposite directions. AP voters opened the Rebels at No. 9. A national columnist said a step back is understandable. This episode takes both seriously.
Take one: nine is exactly right, and being ranked correctly is a bigger milestone for this program than being ranked high. The resume says third — 13-2, a Playoff semifinal, No. 3 in the final AP poll. The question says three games, which is Pete Golding's entire head coaching sample. Brett Ciancia of Pick Six Previews independently landed on 10th nationally and fourth in the SEC, and ESPN's draft-talent tiers put Ole Miss alongside Ohio State and Georgia. Three separate methods, same answer.
Take two: John Talty at CBS Sports wrote Monday that it is understandable to think Ole Miss steps back without Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. The premise assumes the scheme left with them. It did not. John David Baker is in his fourth year at Ole Miss, was here when the offense led the SEC in total offense in 2021, took a bottom-10 East Carolina offense to top-25 in a year, and is on record with On3 keeping this one about 80 percent the same.
The honest counterweights, both of them: nine is fair because Golding has not proven anything across a full season, and Baker has never called a play in the Southeastern Conference. Not one snap. Those are the real arguments against everything above.
Is this offense better or worse in 2026? Tell me in the comments.
Locked On Ole Miss Hits — quick takes on the Rebels every weekday. Subscribe and hit the bell. Hotty Toddy.
#OleMiss #HottyToddy #APPoll #SEC #CollegeFootball #RebelNation
CHAPTERS (derived from the measured word counts above plus the 20-second ad)
0:00 — Nine is exactly right — and why that's the milestone
2:39 — CBS says a step back is understandable — the Baker resume
4:32 — Closing