This was posted to SECrant.com in March 2015.

“The four teams that have never been to Atlanta.

Texas A&M (new to the league)

Vanderbilt (academics first)

Kentucky (the pride of the SEC in basketball)

Ole Miss (they just suck at sports, especially football)”

That is a mix of reality and perception for Ole Miss. The last four years have brought about recruiting classes the university had never seen, rises in the polls and national fanfare.

What it still hasn’t brought is a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. There are a lot of things that could change that this season, but also a lot of things that could keep the unwanted streak going.

1. A quarterback debacle: What if Chad Kelly is a hero through five games? The Rebels will have beaten Alabama and Georgia along the way to being 5-0 and sitting atop the national rankings. In a big challenge on Oct. 15 at Arkansas, Kelly is injured and out for the season. Shea Patterson is the heir apparent, but if he did take over at this time, he would be entering back-to-back road games against Arkansas and LSU before hosting Auburn and going to Texas A&M. Patterson has all the tools to be great, but testing by fire sometimes leads to success by failure. Getting to Atlanta leaves no room for failure.

2. Too much shakeup along the offensive line: The Rebels started four seniors and junior Laremy Tunsil in the Sugar Bowl. There are a lot of guys returning who can play multiple spots. What if that never gets settled? What if freshmen Greg Little and Alex Givens both struggle at left tackle, and center can’t get settled between Robert Conyers and Sean Rawlings? The talent there has to eventually settle somewhere for the machine to oil well.

3. The run game stays the same: There is something to be said for consistency, but the Rebels need less of it behind Kelly. Ole Miss was seventh in the SEC, averaging 181 rushing yards per game. That’s not going to cut it if Atlanta is a goal. To put that in perspective, LSU rushed for 246 yards per game, Tennessee 224 and Alabama 208. Ole Miss was one of eight teams averaging less than 190. Akeem Judd and/or Jordan Wilkins are the latest duo to attempt to turn that around.

4. New spotlight for receivers: There’s no debating the talent level of Ole Miss’ top returning receivers, senior Quincy Adeboyejo and junior Damore’ea Stringfellow. There is also no denying that defenses were paying more attention to teammate Laquon Treadwell last season. A lot of the new focus will be on the senior and junior. If the production isn’t there, it limits the production of sophomore DaMarkus Lodge, redshirt freshman Van Jefferson and senior tight end Evan Engram, while halting the growth of top recruits A.J. Brown, DK Metcalf and Tre Nixon.

5. Too much DB departure: Mike Hilton and Trae Elston left with 140 tackles, 27 pass breakups and 33 deflections. As good as Tony Conner’s return will be at Huskie, free safety C.J. Hampton and corners Ken Webster and Tony Bridges are going to be asked for a lot more. There is plenty of room to grow. The Rebels ranked next to last in the SEC last season after allowing 258.8 passing yards per game.