Why Ole Miss football is ready for the national spotlight

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Why Ole Miss football is ready for the national spotlight originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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For the Ole Miss Rebels, the conversation has changed.

After defeating LSU 32-24, the Rebels climbed to No. 4 in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, giving the program its highest ranking since finishing No. 3 last season.

Ole Miss is also part of an SEC landscape that now features ten ranked teams, tying the conference record for the most teams in the poll. That combination puts Ole Miss in a different position. The Rebels are no longer simply trying to prove they belong among the nation’s best. They’re now being asked whether they can stay there.

A Win That Changed the Conversation

Ole Miss entered the season with expectations, but the Rebels’ early results have pushed those expectations higher. The victory over LSU provided the kind of resume boost that can change how a team is viewed nationally. It also came against a ranked SEC opponent, giving Ole Miss an opportunity to establish itself before the heart of the conference schedule arrives.

Rebels head Coach Pete Golding is now 4-1 against ranked opponents, adding another layer to the story surrounding his program. Being ranked No.4 creates a different challenge. Every opponent now has a reason to treat Ole Miss like a championship contender.

Trinidad Chambliss has Become a Central Figure

At the forefront of the Rebel’s success lies Trinidad Chambliss. He’s quickly become one of the most recognizable names in college football after back-to-back impressive performances to open the season. His emergence has also added another dimension to a program that’s suddenly being discussed alongside the sport’s traditional powers. The LSU victory only amplified that attention.

Chambliss was originally recruited from the Division II level, and Lane Kiffin helped turn him into a star before leaving Ole Miss for LSU. Now, with Kiffin on the opposing sideline, Chambliss became one of the central figures in Ole Miss’ biggest win of the fairly young season. His rise represents something larger than one quarterback’s breakout.

It represents the kind of player development that can help a program move from being competitive to becoming nationally relevant. “It meant more than other games,” said Chambliss, who finished 33 of 48 for 363 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on Saturday night. “I’m finally glad we got the one out of the way because emotions were really high for this game.”

The SEC Provides no Room to Relax

The biggest challenge for Ole Miss may not be reaching the national spotlight, it’ll be staying there. The SEC currently has 10 teams ranked in the Top 25, including Texas at No. 1, Georgia at No. 2 and Alabama at No. 8. That means every conference game carries significant weight. Now, Ole Miss will have to battle with the expectations that come with its ranking while navigating a conference filled with nationally ranked opponents. The Rebels cannot afford to treat the LSU victory as the destination. It has become the beginning of something bigger.

Will Ole Miss Handle the Attention?

The Rebles have talent, confidence and a quarterback who’s become one of the early stories of the college football season, but national relevance is not built through one victory. It’s built through consistency, Ole Miss has reached the spotlight. Now, comes the harder part, proving to the world they belong there week in and week out. Ole Miss has earned its place at No. 4. What happens next will determine what that ranking ultimately means.

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