Ole Miss has questions for the CFP committee; one is not regarding South Carolina, which stays below the Rebels….
Ole Miss, like many teams vying for a spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP), finds itself questioning the decisions of the selection committee as the season progresses. The Rebels’ case centers on their own performance, the strength of their schedule, and their place among the elite teams in college football. Interestingly, one of the major questions they have for the CFP committee does not even involve their recent game against South Carolina, a contest that they won decisively. Instead, the focus is broader—on the overall landscape of the rankings and how teams are evaluated.
First, it’s essential to understand the nature of Ole Miss’ current position. The Rebels have been impressive throughout the season, posting strong wins and remaining competitive in the tough SEC. With their only loss coming against a top-tier opponent, they feel they should be in contention for a spot in the Playoff, particularly given their high-powered offense and solid defense. However, despite their solid performance, Ole Miss has been hovering just outside the CFP’s top four.
A central concern for Ole Miss is the ranking of teams with similar or slightly worse records. While they feel their strength of schedule and high-quality victories should place them among the best in the country, the committee has sometimes ranked teams with worse records or weaker schedules ahead of them. This is especially true when comparing the Rebels to some of their SEC counterparts, who may not have looked as dominant on the field but benefit from historical prestige or a perception that their conference record holds more weight.
The specific question Ole Miss has for the CFP committee relates to the rankings of teams from the SEC. While Ole Miss is ranked above South Carolina, there seems to be a disparity in how their results are viewed when compared to similar teams. The Rebels are perplexed by the committee’s reluctance to elevate them despite their head-to-head victories and impressive individual performances. South Carolina, a team that Ole Miss defeated convincingly, remains below the Rebels in the rankings, yet the Rebels continue to face skepticism in terms of their postseason fate.
Another issue Ole Miss has raised is the inconsistency in how the committee weighs strength of schedule. Many of the teams ranked ahead of Ole Miss have not faced as rigorous a slate of games, yet they continue to sit higher in the rankings. The Rebels have faced some of the toughest opponents in the country, and their lone loss was to an elite team. For Ole Miss, this disparity has led to frustrations, as they feel their performance on the field should be a bigger factor in their ranking.
Additionally, there is the matter of reputation. Ole Miss, despite being an elite program in recent years, does not carry the same historic prestige as teams like Alabama or Georgia. While the Rebels have consistently performed at a high level, their place among the college football elite has been difficult to secure in the eyes of the CFP committee, which often seems to favor programs with longstanding histories of success. Ole Miss feels that this bias could be a factor in their current ranking and potential playoff berth.
In conclusion, while Ole Miss continues to play excellent football and competes at a high level in the SEC, the questions they have for the CFP committee go beyond their game against South Carolina. They are focused on a broader issue: how teams like them, with solid records and strong resumes, are evaluated in comparison to other programs. Until the committee can provide clearer answers to these questions, Ole Miss may continue to feel that they are being overlooked despite their considerable achievements.