At this point in the college football season, the postseason is still completely undetermined. Experts for every sports news outlet have been posting predictions for weeks now, but until after the conference championships are played this weekend, no one will really know what match-ups the postseason will bring. With the new college football playoff system being implemented this year, there’s even more to speculate about and a number of bowl games we could see the Rebels playing in to finish off their season.
The aforementioned playoff system means the top four teams in the country will be selected to enter the playoff. In addition to this, the playoff selection committee also picks six teams that play in the Cotton, Fiesta and Peach bowls on New Year’s day.
The best-case scenario for Ole Miss would be to be selected for either the Cotton or Peach bowl. The Cotton bowl, which was won twice by Ole Miss under Houston Nutt, seems to be the more likely of the two options, with most predictions showing Mississippi State representing the SEC in the Peach Bowl.
As it stands right now, Ole Miss is just outside of the top 10 at No. 12 and would probably need losses by Wisconsin and Kansas State to be chosen by the selection committee to play in one of the New Year’s Day bowls. Wisconsin takes on Ohio State, who after the loss of freshman quarterback JT Barrett to injury, is now starting their third-string sophomore quarterback Cardale Jones. This definitely hurts Ohio State’s chances and makes Wisconsin favored to win the game. There’s a good chance No. 9 Kansas State falls to No. 6 Baylor, but the Rebels will probably need both Kansas State and Wisconsin to lose to secure the New Year’s day bowl.
If the cards don’t fall the Rebel’s way, they could be traveling to Florida for the Outback, Tax Slayer or Citrus bowl. If the Rebels were to make it to the Outback bowl, which takes place in Tampa, they would take on a team from the Big Ten conference. Multiple outlets predict that Wisconsin could be this team, whose power running scheme would present a very touch matchup for the Rebels.
For the Tax Slayer bowl, which is in Jacksonville, Ole Miss would take on an ACC or Big Ten school, with Boston College being a strong possibility. As for the Citrus bowl, Ole Miss would once again be facing a Big Ten or ACC school. If the Big Ten sends a team to the Orange bowl, which it appears they will, then Ole Miss could possibly face No. 21 Louisville in the Citrus bowl.
Overall, the Rebels would most likely be facing steeper competition in the Outback or Citrus Bowl in comparison to the Tax Slayer bowl.
Although it is just speculation at this point for where the Rebels will play in their postseason matchup, it’s certainly an exciting time as Ole Miss could potentially be playing in a huge game to ring in the New Year.
