2018 Ole Miss Rebels football team


The 2018 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Rebels played their home games at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. They were led by second-year head coach Matt Luke. They finished the season 5–7, 1–7 in SEC play to finish in sixth place in the Western Division.
On December 1, 2017, the University of Mississippi was dealt multiple sanctions by the NCAA, including a 2-year post-season ban. As Ole Miss already self-imposed a post-season ban during the 2017 season, 2018 will be the last season without post-season play due to the sanctions. On February 5, 2018, the university submitted a written appeal to the NCAA regarding the penalties, stating: “This Committee should vacate and reverse the penalties and factual findings, because the COI abused its discretion, departed from precedent, committed procedural errors, and reached factual conclusions inconsistent with the evidence.”

Previous season

The Rebels finished the 2017 season 6–6, 3–5 in SEC play to finish in sixth place in the Western Division. They did not participate in a bowl game while serving a one year self imposed bowl ban.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
Rimington TrophySean RawlingsCSR
Maxwell AwardA. J. BrownWRJR
Fred Biletnikoff AwardA. J. BrownWRJR
John Mackey AwardDawson KnoxTEJR
Outland TrophyGreg LittleOLJR
Wuerffel TrophyJavon PattersonOLSR
Walter Camp AwardA. J. BrownWRJR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardJordan Ta'amuQBSR
Polynesian College Football Player of the YearJordan Ta'amuQBSR
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardGreg LittleOLJR

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Rebels predicted to finish in sixth place.
Media poll

Preseason All-SEC teams

The Rebels had three players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
Offense
1st team
A. J. Brown – WR
Greg Little – OL
3rd team
Javon Patterson – OL

Recruiting

The Rebels’ 2018 recruiting class was ranked 32nd in the nation and 10th in the SEC by 247Sports.

Schedule

Ole Miss announced its 2018 football schedule on September 19, 2017. The 2018 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Rebels will host SEC foes Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, and Mississippi State, and will travel to LSU, Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt.
The Rebels will be hosting three of their four non-conference opponents, hosting Southern Illinois, Kent State from the Mid-American Conference, Louisiana–Monroe from the Sun Belt Conference, and will then travel to Houston for their neutral site season opener against Texas Tech from the Big 12 Conference, which is the 2018 edition of the
AdvoCare Texas Kickoff.

Personnel

Coaching staff

Game summaries

vs Texas Tech

Southern Illinois

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–0Sep. 10, 2011W, 42–24

#1 Alabama

Overall recordLast meetingResult
11-49-2Sep. 30, 2017L, 3-66

Kent State

at #5 LSU

Louisiana-Monroe

Overall recordLast meetingResult
3-0Nov. 15, 2008W, 59-0

at Arkansas

Auburn

Overall recordLast meetingResult
11-31Oct. 7, 2017L, 23-44

South Carolina

Overall recordLast meetingResult
8-7Sep. 24, 2009L, 10-16

at Texas A&M

at Vanderbilt

#18 Mississippi State

Overall recordLast meetingResult
64-44-6Nov. 23, 2017W, 31-28

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
237Greg LittleOTCarolina Panthers
251A. J. BrownWRTennessee Titans
264D.K. MetcalfWRSeattle Seahawks
396Dawson KnoxTEBuffalo Bills
7246Javon PattersonCIndianapolis Colts
7252Ken WebsterCBNew England Patriots