The last 10 months or so in Oxford have been among the most turbulent a program can endure. The aftermath of the yearslong NCAA investigation left the Ole Miss program in a uniquely difficult position, but thanks to the hard work of one of the Rebels’ own, the program appears to be on the up and up once again.

Following a weekend which not only featured the Grove Bowl but four commitments, Ole Miss currently has the nation’s No. 1 class for the 2019 recruiting cycle. That’s an incredible achievement for Matt Luke and his program that’s got the attention of Paul Finebaum.

During his weekly Monday morning radio appearance on WJOX 94.5 FM program The Roundtable, Finebaum was asked to give his impression of Luke and the job he’s doing in Oxford. The SEC Network host may not have bought in on Luke initially, but it appears he’s now one of his biggest supporters.

“He’s got an infectious personality. It took probably him winning the Egg Bowl to get him that job but he does not let anything stop him. He does not let anything get in the way. I think it’s a remarkable story,” Finebaum said on the show. “A year ago, all we were talking about how bad this program was trending, whether Hugh Freeze would survive. The fact that they are getting positive vibes out of Oxford is remarkable. I give him a lot of credit.

“I also give (Ole Miss AD) Ross Bjork credit for going with someone who on the surface did not look like he was ready to become a head coach — until you look under the surface and find out how deep his roots are with that program and really how long he’s been understudying at Ole Miss. He was much more ready for that job than I thought he was.”

Finebaum was then asked a follow-up question, as Arkansas also held its spring game this weekend, the first under head coach Chad Morris. If the SEC Network host had to buy stock in only one program, Matt Luke at Ole Miss or Morris at Arkansas, which one would he go?

“I’d probably go Matt Luke,” Finebaum answered. “To me, what Chad Morris is trying to do looks easy, but it’s not. I really have some concerns, not about him — I think he’s an excellent coach, but I have concerns about that program.”

Fortunately, the two programs will have an opportunity to settle the debate on the field in October, as Ole Miss travels to Little Rock to face Arkansas in War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 13.