Another Way To View The Ole Miss Season — By the Numbers

Counting the 14 SEC teams and their nonconference opponents, the population totals 62 different teams. I ranked these teams according to Athlon Sports. Because they only rank 128 teams, I had to utilize the final Sagarin ratings from 2013 in order to compile the complete list.
Here’s how it came out:
1. Florida State
 2. Alabama
 3. Oklahoma
 4. Auburn
5. Georgia
6. South Carolina
7. Wisconsin
8. “OLE MISS”
9. LSU
10. Kansas State
11. Clemson
12. Florida
13. Missouri
14. Louisville
15. Mississippi State
16. Texas A&M
17. TX Tech
18. Tennessee
19. Vanderbilt
20. Boise State
21. GA Tech
22. Utah State
23. Eastern Carolina
24. Central Florida
25. Indiana
26. UL-Lafayette
27. Arkansas
28. West Virginia
29. Kentucky
30. Toledo
31. Northern Illinois
32. South Alabama
33. Rice
34. Florida Atlantic
 35. AR State
36. Ohio
37. SMU
38. Memphis
39. Temple
40. San Jose State
41. Troy
42. UAB
43. ULM
44. LA Tech
45. Southern Miss.
46. Old Dominion
47. UMASS
48. Eastern Michigan
49. Idaho
50. New Mex. St.
51. S. Dakota State
52. Sam Houston State
53. Chattanooga
54. UT Martin
55. Eastern Kentucky
56. Furman
57. Samford
58. Charleston Southern
59. Lamar
60. Nicholls State
61. W. Carolina
62. Presbyterian
This sphere is all that counts for the SEC until bowling starts. Whatever happens with the rest of the nation is outside of our control. According to Athlon, LSU starts the season with Wisconsin, a team they have ranked ahead of both LSU and Ole Miss! This August 30th matchup is one ALL Rebel fans need to take note of!
Another interesting peculiarity about the preseason rankings according to Athlon, they have our non-conference opponent UL-Lafayette ranked three places higher than Arkansas.

Whatever source you use to evaluate the preseason, it really makes no difference as once the season starts, the teams’ relationship to winning and losing versus the field will determine the “new” rankings each and every week. Our 12 opponents are ranked as followed in the above grouping of 62:
#2 Alabama
#4 Auburn
#9 LSU
#15 Mississippi State
#16 TAMU
#18 Tennessee
#19 Vanderbilt
#20 Boise State
#26 UL-Lafayette
#27 Arkansas
#38 Memphis
#62 Presbyterian
It is also interesting to note that the only teams ranked ahead of us (Alabama and Auburn) both come to Oxford. Therefore, we will determine our own destiny right here in Oxford! The primary difference between the 2014 Rebels and the 2012 and 2013 squads, we are now the favorite to win most of the time. Enough praise cannot be extended to our coaching staff and players. Not only have they “won the day”, they have won our hearts and equally important, the respect of the football world!
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. In addition, he is a certified economic and community developer and currently, a highly successful leader in the real estate business with Premier Properties of Oxford. Steve’s lifelong dream has been to live in Oxford full-time. “I am now living my dream daily as is my wife Rosie, who works with the Oxford Chamber of Commerce,” Steve said. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.comor call him at 985-852-7745.