OXFORD — There are high expectations for Ole Miss football in 2026. The preseason AP Top 25 Poll was released on Aug. 17. The Rebels are No. 9, with Ohio State earning the No. 1 spot. It is better than the No. 10 ranking Ole Miss got in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll released Aug. 4. Ohio State got the No. 1 spot in that poll as well.
Ole Miss is coming off its first College Football Playoff appearance. The Rebels made some noise in the CFP in 2025 by beating Tulane in the first round and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. The run ended in the Fiesta Bowl with a 31-27 loss to Miami. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy return to form what should be a formidable duo. Ole Miss has launched a joint Heisman Trophy campaign to highlight their stars. There are three SEC teams ranked above the Rebels. Georgia is No. 3, Texas is No. 5 and Texas A&M is No. 8. Ole Miss will open the season against Louisville on Sept. 6 (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) in a neutral site game in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Titans' Nissan Stadium. The Cardinals are No. 24. 2026 preseason AP Top 25 Poll First place votes in parenthesis
Ohio State (40) Oregon (14) Georgia Notre Dame (6) Texas Indiana Miami (FL) Texas A&M Ole Miss Oklahoma LSU Texas Tech Alabama BYU USC Michigan Washington Penn State SMU Tennessee Utah Iowa Houston Louisville Missouri
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Where Ole Miss football is ranked in preseason AP Top 25 Poll