Ole Miss certainly didn’t need the drama that draft night delivered. The task at hand was already tough enough — getting ready for the 2016 opener against Florida State.

Somehow the Rebels now have to trudge through what appears to be a very long road with the NCAA and in the process carry the SEC flag into opening night in Orlando.

Florida State is a threat to a new-look Rebels team that night, with possibly the country’s top defense planning to harass an offensive line that lost five heavy contributors including star and above-referenced Laremy Tunsil.

Here are a few more threats to dethrone the SEC in 2016 as Alabama aims for back-to-back championships.

1. OHIO STATE

The Buckeyes played their spring game in front of more than 101,000. Think they’re ready to do it for real?

Replacing RB Ezekiel Elliot may be the biggest public concern, but the Buckeyes will also have to have a trio of new starters on the defensive line and in the secondary.

Ohio State doesn’t play any SECs but it has a former SEC coach in Urban Meyer who knows how to beat them in a potential playoff.

That is one solid opening night game that could set the tone for either and a very early chance for outsiders to criticize the SEC if things go south for the Rebels.

The one caveat is that Ohio State put double-digit players into this year’s NFL draft, so we’ll see if Meyer can reload yet again.

2. CLEMSON

Clemson was a legitimate threat to dethrone the SEC last season. Returning a Heisman candidate and a slew of top talent makes the Tigers more dangerous this season.

Deshaun Watson is going to lead an explosive offense that will get to put the SEC to the test on opening weekend at Auburn.

In three days, two ACC powers will have a chance to damage SEC egos, Clemson at Jordan-Hare on Sept. 3 and Florida State against Ole Miss on Labor Day.

3. MICHIGAN

After what was supposed to be more of a rebuilding year than a Citrus Bowl winning season, the Wolverines return 16 starters, including statistically three of the best pass catchers in the Big Ten – WRs Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh and TE Jake Butts.

Coach Jim Harbaugh will be in Pearl, Miss., on June 8 for a satellite camp. He’ll be joined by Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen and Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze.

Harbaugh has Michigan – quarterback pending – primed for the national title spotlight and he is getting an early start on invading the South after ending the season with a 34-point dismantling of Florida.

4. OKLAHOMA

The Sooners won’t play an SEC team in the regular season, but have all the makings of a team that could dethrone one in the playoff.

QB Baker Mayfield returns behind a young and experienced line. He won’t have Sterling Shepard’s hands – the New York Giants now do – but he should have plenty of options. At least six receivers will be in the race behind 2015’s second-leading receiver Dede Westbrook.

Linebackers will have to be addressed but like the receiving corps, there are plenty of players who could step to the forefront.

There may not be an SEC team on the schedule but trips to TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia, plus Ohio State at home are plenty tough. The Sooners get through that and will be a true threat to the SEC.

5. NOTRE DAME

Forget about the Irish? That team that went 10-3 despite starting 38 different players in an injury-cursed season in South Bend.

Despite losing starting QB Malik Zaire in Week 2, Notre Dame’s three losses came by two at Clemson, two at Stanford and to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Zaire and DeShone Kizer will battle at quarterback and Tarean Foster returns after tearing his ACL in Week 1 last season.

Notre Dame did more than survive 2015’s injuries. It thrived. That should pay off, assuming the defense improves its 5.6 yards-per-play average.

It isn’t the same Notre Dame that Alabama thrashed in 2013.