Portal King vs. Old School: On3’s PicKell envisions Ole Miss-Clemson playoff clash

Fox Sports college football commentator Joel Klatt on Monday listed 10 teams in 2025-26 he believes could find themselves in the College Football Playoff for the first time. 

Ole Miss came in at No. 2. 

On3 national analyst JD PicKell took his projections a step further on a recent edition of his ‘Hard Count’ podcast. PicKell broke down potentially electric playoff matchups. Included was a hypothetical showdown between Clemson and Ole Miss.

“Clemson and Ole Miss, I don’t care where we get this one. I don’t care when we get this one. The Portal King, Lane Kiffin, against Dabo (Swinney), who’s just pretty much done it the old-fashioned way,” PicKell said. “Now, I understand Dabo took three transfers this most recent cycle. For the most part, though, he’s built his roster without using the transfer portal. 

“This would be super eye-opening, I think, for all of us as college football fans, because this would give use a really interesting sample size as to what is the best way to put your roster together in modern college football. This is supposed to be Clemson’s best team they’ve had in a minute. Returning quarterback, No. 1 returning production in college football. This should be the year where Clemson’s dangerous. I think they will be dangerous. 

“But Ole Miss, if they’re in the playoff, golf flap for Lane Kiffin. They took 32 transfers. Last year was supposed to be the year for Ole Miss. If they get to the College Football Playoff in a year with a first-year starting quarterback in Austin Simmons and much less proven star power than they had a year ago that would be eye-opening.” 

Ole Miss last season won 10 games for the third time in four years. 

The Rebels are replacing 18 of their starting 22 but still feature a contending roster due to another Top 3 portal class, as ranked by On3.

Ole Miss is one of six programs nationally to sign Top 25 high school classes and Top 25 transfer classes in each of the last three recruiting cycles. The others are Florida State, Miami (Florida), Oklahoma, Oregon and USC.

“If Ole Miss beats Clemson with 32 transfers, a first-year starting quarterback that [already] graduated college … that would tell us a lot about the direction not just for Ole Miss but all of college football,” PicKell said. “What if Clemson not just beats Ole Miss but wins a national championship and Dabo Swinney does it the first time he really actually utilized the portal? 

“Y’all know the movie Shudder Island? There’s a quote at the end where Leo DiCaprio says, ‘Is it better to live a monster or die a good man?’ I think Dabo, after getting a taste of the portal and winning a national championship, would have to ask himself that question. Is it better to live and win natties by maybe going against your traditional values of using the portal? Or is it better to win the ACC every now and then [and] make the playoff when you go the traditional route? 

“I wonder if maybe you get a taste of that, good things happen, and maybe Dabo takes five transfers next year, seven the next.”

Ole Miss opens the season against Georgia State on August 30.

Clemson kicks things off the same day, but against LSU, a bitter SEC rival of the Rebels.

The Tigers are led by star quarterback Cade Klubnik, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate and potential first-round NFL Draft selection next spring.

“Now, they’ve got to replace a ton of talent, but I trust Lane Kiffin,” Klatt wrote of Ole Miss. “I think people love to hate on Lane, but everywhere he’s been, he’s done an excellent job. He’s grown, he’s matured. I loved taking a jab at him at the end of last year, which he took in stride. We’ve texted and talked. Great dude, love Lane.”