Athlon Sports High on Ole Miss Rushing Attack, Analyzes Tough Schedule in 2023 Preview

The publication provided its analysis of the Rebels entering the 2023 season on Saturday.

As the 2023 football season approaches, publications national and local alike are releasing previews for the upcoming campaign. Athlon Sports is producing its typical national preseason content, including magazines and web pieces, and it recently took a dive into the Ole Miss Rebels' odds this season.

The publication ranked the Rebels in their preseason top 25, placing them at No. 21 in the country. It is also high on Quinshon Judkins who it named a First Team Preseason All-American, and it expects the running back to have another strong campaign this fall.

What are some of the question marks the magazine has for Ole Miss, however? In short, it believes the Rebels need to figure out their quarterback room and navigate a grueling conference and non-conference slate in 2023. Here's an excerpt from its Ole Miss preview:

A year ago, Ole Miss was able to ease into life without quarterback Matt Corral due to a manageable first-half schedule. The Rebels held up their end of the bargain, starting 7-0 and reaching No. 7 in the AP Poll and No. 11 in the first CFP rankings. They went 1-5 down the stretch and lost their last four, however, including a double-digit loss to Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl. Ole Miss won’t have the benefit of easing into its schedule in 2023; the Rebels play Tulane, Alabama, LSU and Arkansas within the first six weeks.

Kiffin has plenty of pieces to work with on both sides of the ball, and the Rebels are likely going to be among the top rushing offenses in college football once again after ranking third last year at 256.6 yards per game. How Ole Miss manages the schedule — and its quarterback room, for that matter — will go a long way in determining whether the Rebels take a step forward following a disappointing end to their 2022 campaign.

Ole Miss opens its season at home against Mercer, but the slate gets dangerous quickly beginning with a trip to Tulane in Week 2. A home date with Georgia Tech is followed by a road trip to Alabama and a hosting of LSU to close out September.

The Rebels also will travel to Athens to face the Georgia Bulldogs and Starkville for the annual Egg Bowl this season. Can Ole Miss navigate this slate and take a step forward from a disappointing conclusion to the 2022 season?

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