It’s finally here. Opening night. A night Hugh Freeze and the Ole Miss Rebels have waited for patiently since registering a 25-17 win over Georgia Tech in last December’s Music City Bowl.

Bo Wallace is a senior; so is Cody Prewitt. The Rebels’ star-studded 2013 recruiting class has a year of experience under its collective belt.

Ole Miss cracked the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 for the first time since 2009, and it opens the season in primetme on national television against a polarizing opponent in Boise State. The Rebels may be comfortable favorites in Atlanta, but there’s still plenty at stake in this game.

The Rebels need to set a tone for the 2014 season tonight. In an SEC West division with five ranked teams, it will take more than modest non-conference victories to achieve an impactful season.

Wallace needs to show he has command of the Rebels’ fast-paced offense, and perhaps prove he and Laquon Treadwell can be one of the most dynamic quarterback-receiver duos in the nation.

Ole Miss’ super sophomores need to prove they’ve grown since their freshmen seasons, not regressed into sophomore slumps. Robert Nkemdiche has the chance to show he’s figured out the defensive tackle position by wreaking havoc in the middle. Prewitt has a chance to make fans notice his All-American abilities.

And as a team, the Rebels have a chance to put the rest of the SEC, and even the country, on notice.

Hugh Freeze has been collecting talent in Oxford for three years, and this season’s team could be the perfect storm of experience and dynamic athleticism.

Although few fans expect it, many would be willing to believe Ole Miss can win the West this season with home games against Alabama and Auburn. But those fans need some proof first that this team is for real. After all, it wasn’t long ago that Jeremiah Masoli and the Rebels lost on opening day to Jacksonville State.

Ole Miss needs a deliberate, convincing victory tonight. The result needs to be decided in the first half. The Rebels need to put forward a performance that can make fans believe they’ll be a tough out for the rest of the SEC.

Most of all, they need to introduce themselves to the selection committee. You know, for that playoff thing we’ve been talking about for months. We all know they’ll be watching tonight’s action.

The Rebels have a lot more at stake tonight than a 1-0 start to the season. It’s the night they’ve waited on for nine months, and it’s now just hours away.

Will they be ready?