OXFORD -- The Ole Miss Rebels have received a flurry of good news in recent days regarding the makeup of their 2024 roster, and part of that news came from wide receiver Jordan Watkins.
Watkins was one of multiple players who voiced their intention to return to Ole Miss for a final season of eligibility next fall, and a large part of this decision came down to what he believes this team is capable of in a new era of college football.
The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams next season, and if that format had been in place in 2023, the No. 11 Rebels would have made the cut, earning the opportunity to compete for a national championship. Ole Miss players, including Watkins, believe that there is a legitimate shot at reaching that threshold again next year when it matters.
"A lot kind of went into the decision [to return]," Watkins said on Friday. "I think we have a chance to do something really, really special this year with winning 11 games with the bowl game, but potentially, with the way the College Football Playoff is set up next year, I think we have a really good shot at making a run at it next year. I just wanted to be a part of that."
A similar message has been delivered by other Rebels who have elected to return to Oxford next season, especially in the receiver room with names like Watkins and Tre Harris. With some key pieces in the transfer portal already added (and perhaps more on the way), the old and new faces will have the Playoff in mind when next season kicks off on Aug. 31.
"We talk every day," Watkins said of the receiver room. "With it being the elephant in the room, you want to talk about it amongst your peers, and that's kind of what we did. Really cool to see all of us on the same page and add some additions in the transfer portal as well. That's been going good for us, so we're really excited."
Ole Miss still has one game remaining on its schedule in 2023, taking part in a New Year's Six bowl game on Dec. 30 with an opportunity to win 11 games in a single season for the first time in program history. The Peach Bowl between Ole Miss and the Penn State Nittany Lions will take place in Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 11 a.m. CT, and the game will be televised on ESPN.
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