OXFORD, Miss. – With fall camp finally underway at Ole Miss, the chatter outside the indoor practice facility is quieter than the previous two seasons when the Rebels won a combined 21 games.

But what else does Ole Miss expect?

Last year, the Rebels missed the College Football Playoffs when they had both the hype and the talent on the roster, but maybe not having all of the buzz heading into 2025 isn’t such a bad thing for Lane Kiffin and company.

” You know, before, if you would’ve lost a lot of significant players here, you’d be looking at the voting and you’d be bottom of the conference. Is it different that you’re not being talked about in the top 10 in the country, so that’s a good place to be for Ole Miss, that those questions are coming up now,” said Kiffin.

Ole Miss had a record eight players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, and only returns four starters. However, like in years past, Lane Kiffin has retooled through the transfer portal.

” It was kind of like a lot of guys who have had success and entered the transfer portal and came here so I wanted a piece of that success too. It was proof in the pudding,” said LSU transfer safety Sage Ryan.

There’s also a ton of expectations surrounding redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons, who replaces Jaxson Dart, who left Ole Miss as the program’s all-time leader in total offense and passing yards.

” It’s been good connecting with Austin as a young man he’s very talented and very good. Strong arm, he works with his guys on and off the field,” said Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright.

” I feel like it’s great, we all spend time with each other outside of the building, so that’s really what where all the connection and bonding are built for the field just having the time outside, going out to eat, chilling and bowling, playing the game, things like that,” said Penn State transfer wide receiver Harrison Wallace III.

Ole Miss kicks off the 2025-26 season on August 30th when they host Georgia State.