Greg McElroy Names Unexpected SEC Team As National Championship Contender

Surprise, the SEC is absolutely stacked, featuring programs like Georgia, Alabama and Texas headlining the expanded conference ahead of the 2024 college football season.

While those mentioned are getting the most looks in preseason polls, College Football Playoff and national championship projections, the programs on the outside may deserve more evaluation as we enter the expanded 12-team playoff-era.

As far as the SEC goes, Ole Miss, Missouri, and Tennessee possess some intriguing pieces that could make a run before January 2025.

According to ESPN analyst Greg McElroy, the Rebels out of Oxford, Mississippi, are a dark horse to win their first national title since 1962.

"We need to wake up and get on board with the possibility that Ole Miss could win the whole dang thing," McElroy said on a recent episode of 'Always College Football' .

Ole Miss was 8-1 (loss to Alabama) and ranked No. 9 when it made the trip to Athens to face the then No. 2 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, who were undefeated. UGA routed the Rebels 52-17 and crushed the momentum in Oxford.

Ole Miss did end on a high note, putting up 38 points to beat Penn State, who possessed the country's top defense, to win by 13 in the Peach Bowl and end the season at 11-2.

That leads us to 2024. Ole Miss returns one of the league's best quarterbacks in Jaxson Dart, a talented receiver group and an improved defensive roster thanks to the transfer portal.

"They’re gonna probably get to the College Football Playoff, and I think when they get there, they can win some games en route to a possible national championship opportunity," McElroy added.

Ole Miss won't have to face Alabama or Texas in the upcoming SEC slate, but will host Georgia on Nov. 9. That matchup will come after visiting South Carolina and LSU and hosting Oklahoma.

The Rebels will kick off the season against Furman on Aug. 31 in Oxford (7 p.m. ET).

Related: Josh Pate Names One Reason Georgia Could Miss The SEC Championship Game In 2024