Does Ole Miss Have Nation's Toughest Schedule?

The Ole Miss Rebels might have the strongest schedule in College Football. And it starts early on.

It would appear that the Ole Miss Rebels were given the short end of the stick by College Football schedule makers. 

And by the luck of the draw, they are the only SEC team to play Alabama and Georgia on the road this year.

According to 247 Sports and the ESPN Power Index Ranking, Ole Miss has the most challenging schedule in college football. Being ranked as the 20th-best team in the nation only gives the Rebels a 2.0% chance of making the SEC title game.

Here we go over the five most challenging games Ole Miss faces in 2023.

Week 2 @ Tulane:

Tulane is a team on the rise after a 12-2 season last year, upsetting a coveted USC team in the Cotton Bowl. With talent coming back like quarterback Michael Pratt, Tulane will not be a walk in the park. However, there seems to be more talent for the Rebels. It is crucial to not drop any games before heading to Alabama in Week 4, so there is not much room for error to start the season.

Week 4 @ Alabama:

This will be the first conference game of the year for both squads. Last season, the Crimson Tide came to Oxford, winning 30-24 in a fourth-quarter nail-biter. The Rebels have gained more experience than the team last year, but to beat Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa will call for a flawless effort.

Week 5 vs LSU:

Last season Ole Miss' first loss came at the hands of the LSU Tigers, losing by 25 points. Quarterback Jayden Daniels returns for another season. With legitimate Heisman buzz, if Daniels shows flashes of the Ole Miss game last year, the Rebels will have their work cut out. If there is a game for LSU to fumble all season, I think it is this one. After coming off of a road game against Alabama, the Rebels should start off sharp and ready to play. 

Week 10 @ Georgia:

There is no explanation needed that this is the hardest game of the season for Ole Miss. The back-to-back national champions are looking like the new powerhouse of college football. The Rebels were given the short end of the stick on this one

Week 12 @ Mississippi State:

Ranked or not, in-state games never come easy. Especially when the title of "who runs the Sip" is up for grabs. For the last decade, this has been an evenly matched series and should be similar this year. Although the Bulldogs have a new head coach, they are still gaming returning quarterback Will Rogers who led them to a 24-22 win against the Rebels in last year's Egg Bowl. This should give Ole Miss a chip on its shoulder heading into the final game of the season on Thanksgiving day.

You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan

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