Spruce Derden, USA TODAY SPORTS
The Ole Miss Rebels had a truly special season in 2014. Ole Miss found itself in the mix for the inaugural College Football Playoff, at least for a while. But after winning their first seven contests, the Rebels lost four of their last six to finish at 9-4.
Overall, the Hotty Toddy Nation was pleased with the season. It was a one-game improvement from the year before, the second straight season in which head coach Hugh Freeze led his team to an additional victory.
Freeze is now 24-15 in his three seasons in Oxford. When he took over the program, the Rebels had just endured a 2-10 season, so it’s clear that the program has come a long way.
At this point in time, perhaps the greatest threat to Freeze and the Rebels is that fact that their intrastate rivals, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, have also experienced quite a bit of success over the last three seasons. With Dan Mullen running the MSU program, the Bulldogs have experienced a rise in status. However, Freeze and the Rebels have beaten the Bulldogs twice in three tries.
Freeze and the Rebels figure to have another strong team in 2015, despite losing quarterback Bo Wallace to graduation. Ole Miss should have one of the best defenses in the SEC again this season, led by All-American Robert Nkemdiche, and Freeze will hope the defense can play well enough to keep the Rebels in games while the offense catches up. But make no mistake, Freeze will get the offense going, as he always has in his career.
Heading into 2015, Freeze is not on a very hot seat, but as long as Mississippi State continues to rise, the Ole Miss head coach should be wary.
Hot seat monitor: 2 out of 10
Tim Letcher is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimLetcher , on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
