Can Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss football win 10 games again? Our season predictions for 2022
OXFORD — The only thing Ole Miss football can do after one of the best seasons in program history is play another season and see what happens.
The Rebels open their 2022 season in less than a week, trying to build off a Sugar Bowl berth and the first 10-win regular season in school history last year. Coach Lane Kiffin's team is loaded with new faces to play a schedule backloaded with some of the nation's best teams in October and November.
Here are the Clarion Ledger's game-by-game predictions for Ole Miss football in 2022.
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Sept. 3: vs. Troy
Last season: Did not play. Troy finished 5-7.
The buzz: New Troy coach Jon Sumrall inherits a team that returns plenty of talent on defense. But the Trojans offense doesn't have the firepower to keep up with the Rebels, even if Kiffin's squad is breaking in new quarterbacks, running backs and receivers.
The prediction: Ole Miss wins 38-17.
Sept. 10: vs. Central Arkansas
Last season: Did not play. Central Arkansas finished 5-6 FCS.
The buzz: This isn't the Ole Miss team that's going to drop a gimme game against an FCS foe. Get ready to see some freshmen and walk-ons getting their shots in the fourth quarter.
The prediction: Ole Miss wins 45-7.
Sept. 17: at Georgia Tech
Last season: Did not play. Georgia Tech finished 3-9.
The buzz: Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins might have the hottest hot seat of any Power 5 coach. The Rebels don't do anything to cool that seat against one of the ACC's least-proven rosters.
The prediction: Ole Miss wins 41-20.
Sept. 24: vs. Tulsa
Last season: Did not play. Tulsa finished 7-6.
The buzz: Tulsa runs a tempo offense similar to Ole Miss' scheme and only lost to Oklahoma State and Cincinnati by 13 combined points last year. The Golden Hurricane present a challenge, but not enough to give the Rebels their first loss.
The prediction: Ole Miss wins 34-24.
Oct. 1: vs. Kentucky
Last season: Did not play. Kentucky finished 10-3.
The buzz: Kentucky's defense is among the SEC's best and most experienced. The Wildcats offense needs to find replacements for two pro offensive linemen and star receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (and maybe running back Chris Rodriguez depending on how healthy he can get by October), but quarterback Will Levis is a star in the making. This will be a close game with major implications for the New Year's Six bowls.
The prediction: Kentucky wins 31-28.
Oct. 8: at Vanderbilt
Last season: Ole Miss won 31-17. Vanderbilt finished 2-10.
The buzz: Even if Vanderbilt is a lot better than expected and Ole Miss is a lot worse, this game might not be close. The Commodores' program just isn't where the Rebels' is right now, and Kiffin's squad should make it through this one pretty easily.
The prediction: Ole Miss wins 35-17.
Oct. 15: vs. Auburn
Last season: Auburn won 31-20. Auburn finished 6-7.
The buzz: Don't confuse dysfunction with defeated. Auburn should still have one of the nation's best defenses and a dynamic run game. Ole Miss figures to be the more consistent team, though, and that puts the Rebels on top.
The prediction: Ole Miss wins 27-20.
Oct. 22: at LSU
Last season: Ole Miss won 31-17. LSU finished 6-7.
The buzz: This time around, Ole Miss won't be facing an LSU team with a lame-duck coaching waiting for the offseason. An improved and healthier LSU team hosting the Rebels in Tiger Stadium means a momentum-slowing loss for the Rebels.
The prediction: LSU wins 34-24.
Oct. 29: at Texas A&M
Last season: Ole Miss won 29-19. Texas A&M finished 8-4.
The buzz: This will be a battle between the SEC's best recruiting class versus the SEC's best transfer portal signing class. Texas A&M's talent loses out to Ole Miss' experience as the Rebels pull the upset for the second year in a row.
The prediction: Ole Miss wins 31-17.
Nov. 12: vs. Alabama
Last season: Alabama won 42-21. Alabama finished 13-2.
The buzz: Ole Miss isn't ready to slay the dragon. Not quite yet. Bryce Young, Will Anderson and the rest of coach Nick Saban's superstars come to Oxford and take the Rebels down.
The prediction: Alabama wins 38-16.
Nov. 19: at Arkansas
Last season: Ole Miss won 52-51. Arkansas finished 9-4.
The buzz: Last year's Rebels vs. Razorbacks showdown was one of the best games in recent college football memory. This year's has fewer fireworks, fewer points and fewer happy Rebels fans.
The prediction: Arkansas wins 30-21.
Nov. 24: vs. Mississippi State
Last season: Ole Miss won 31-21. Mississippi State finished 7-6.
The buzz: The last time Ole Miss won three straight Egg Bowls? 2002-04. The last Ole Miss coach to win his first three Egg Bowls? Billy Brewer. Both of those streaks are broken on Thanksgiving night in Oxford.
The prediction: Ole Miss win 34-21.
Contact Nick Suss at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Predicting every Ole Miss football game in 2022: How Rebels will fare
