Aug 302 min read

Ole Miss to Begin Its Pivotal 2024 Season With Furman

It's time to get one of the most anticipated Ole Miss football seasons in history underway.

At 7:00 p.m. EST on Aug. 31 in Oxford, Miss., the Rebels officially kick off a pivotal 2024 season in Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss regime against the Furman Paladins.

The Rebels enter Saturday's contest ranked No. 6, and are looking for their first College Football Playoff appearance. A season-opening win over the Paladins would get them one step closer to attaining that goal.

Here's everything fans and observers need to know before these two squads square off.

The Stakes

Opening a season with a victory will forever be better than opening it with a loss. Ole Miss is rightfully favored in this game, but don't count out Furman quite yet. The Paladins finished 2023 with a 10-3 record that included a trip to the FCS playoffs. A win for the Paladins would go down as one of the biggest in program history, while the Rebels are looking to win their fourth consecutive season-opener under Kiffin.

Key Players: Ole Miss

Two words: Jaxson Dart. The 21-year-old is expected to be among the nation's best quarterbacks in 2024, and he could find his way to a stage in New York at the end of the year. Ole Miss' prolific offense won't be a one-man show, however. South Carolina transfer Antwane Wells and Utah State transfer Micah Davis will head a stellar receiving core, with Henry Parrish Jr. and Logan Diggs attempting to fill the hole in the running back room left by Quinshon Judkins.

Key Players: Furman

Ole Miss isn't the only team to boast a solid core of pass-catchers. Furman had seven players finish with over 180 receiving yards. Senior Joshua Harris, who caught 42 passes for 380 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2024, will reprise his role as one of the Paladins' top receivers.

Linebacker Evan DiMaggio will try to anchor Furman's defense this year, as he was the third-leading tackler for the Paladins defense in 2023.

Trends to Watch

Fast. Paced. Offense. Lane Kiffin's system rarely affords opposing defenses opportunities to breathe, and after a few drives, Furman will likely find itself outmatched. The Paladins certainly aren't a slouch on the gridiron, but they won't be able to keep up with an Ole Miss offense that will likely be running up and down the field all evening.