They could surprise some people.
Paul Finebaum Names SEC Team That Could Be a 'Sneaky Good Team' originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football season is quickly approaching, and fans are eager to see how their teams will perform. This anticipation also brings forth numerous predictions about which teams will excel and which may surprise everyone.
On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Michael Bratton, also known as "SEC Mike," shared his insights on several teams he believes will be successful in the SEC. Notably absent from his list was the Ole Miss Rebels, who had a strong season last year, finishing with a record of 10-3 and narrowly missing the College Football Playoff.
Finebaum voiced his opinion, suggesting that the Rebels could indeed surprise some people this season.
"I didn't hear you mention Ole Miss," Finebaum said. "A lot of people think they're a sneaky good team."
Bratton responded by saying he thought Ole Miss would excel last year, but they ultimately underperformed.
"I thought they were sneaky good last year, Paul," Bratton said. "That defense was arguably the best in the conference, particularly against the run. Yet, they couldn't get it done with three head-scratching losses. The one at LSU was forgivable. Kentucky and Florida were not. This roster is not nearly as good."
To emphasize Bratton's point, the Rebels are facing significant losses from their team from last year. The most notable departure is quarterback Jaxson Dart, who had an impressive season, completing 69.3% of his passes with 4,279 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, while recording only six interceptions. His outstanding performance led to his selection in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
The defense also suffered considerable losses, returning only 45% of its production, which ranks 104th in the nation. This is a stark contrast to their previous season, where they were ranked No. 14 in total defense, No. 2 in rush defense, and No. 2 in scoring defense.
A key contributor to that defense was defensive tackle Walter Nolen, who finished the season with 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks before being drafted in the first round by the Arizona Cardinals. Furthermore, Ole Miss will be missing five of its top six sack leaders from last season.
Dart’s replacement will be sophomore Austin Simmons, who threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns while completing 59.4% of his passes in nine games last season.
ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) has a relatively positive outlook on the Rebels. The FPI ranks Ole Miss as the No. 13 team in the country, making them the No. 7 team in the SEC. The forecast predicts an 8-4 record for the season, and the Rebels have a 30.7% chance of making the playoffs, which ranks as the sixth-best odds in the conference.
Ole Miss will kick off its season against Georgia State on Aug. 30 at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names SEC Team With a 'Real Shot' of Making the Playoffs for the First Time
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
