Written by Iain Schreiber
We are getting close to the start of the 2026 NCAA football season with fall camps getting underway this week. Down in Oxford, Mississippi, the new head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, Pete Golding, begins a new era of Rebel football.
Golding was named the 40th head coach in program history, and it quickly became one of the most interesting and drama-filled headlines around the nation. While preparing for the program’s first appearance in the College Football Playoff, former head coach Lane Kiffin took a new job at LSU, creating controversy within the team in what should have been the most exciting time in Ole Miss football history. Amidst all the Kiffin drama, defensive coordinator Pete Golding was named interim head coach of the Rebels for the duration of the college football playoff.
Players, coaches, and fans alike quickly rallied behind Golding and made an impressive run in the college football playoffs, defeating Tulane in the first round and conference opponent Georgia in the second. Ole Miss eventually fell to Miami in the semi-final game, but Golding had proved that he could lead this team in the years to come. Ole Miss came up just short of the national championship game but accomplished the first 13-win season in program history.
Ole Miss retained some significant star power considering the impact of the coaching change the previous year. The quarterback/running back tandem of Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy stole the hearts of Rebel fans across the country, and they both look to be Heisman front runners going into the new year. Suntarine Perkins and Will Echoles headline the defensive returners, a group that only got stronger and deeper this offseason.
More than 50 new faces join the Rebels this season. With both an impressive transfer and high school class, fall camp will be a great opportunity to see what Golding has in his new recruits.
My question for Ole Miss going into 2026: Will Golding be able to keep the momentum of a successful postseason rolling into a brand new year?
Star-Studded Backfield
Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy are the biggest X-factors for Ole Miss entering the 2026 season. Last year, Chambliss threw for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. He finished in eighth place in Heisman voting after starting the season as a backup for the Rebels. Chambliss quickly stole the hearts of Rebel and college football fans, even having a song made in his honor, “Island Time.”
Lacy also became a fan favorite early in the year. He totaled 1,567 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns last season, leading the SEC in touchdowns. He finished third across the nation in rushing yards and second with his touchdown total.
Even though Ole Miss has some coaching changes on the offensive side, they already have their proven answers. Both Chambliss and Lacy will function as a security blanket entering the new year.
What made Chambliss and Lacy so productive together was their ability to threaten a defense. Lacy provided a strong run game that made defenses stack players inside the box, allowing for one-on-one opportunities for wide receivers and scrambles from Chambliss. The QB/RB duo is projected to be one of the best, if not the best, in the country this year.
The chemistry between both these players only seemed to grow as the season went on. In playoff games against Georgia and Miami, the connection between Chambliss and Lacy was unreal. One play that vividly stands out in my mind was the fourth-quarter 3rd & 7 in the Sugar Bowl. Chambliss was under immediate pressure, scrambling first all the way to the right sideline, then back to the left, eventually finding Lacy. Kewan still had about four yards to get the first down and multiple Georgia defenders in front of him. He manages to bulldoze through two players, reaching for the first down in what was a defining moment in the Rebels’ win over Georgia.
Entering the new year, both players are on plenty of award watchlists. I hope to see Chambliss and Lacy not only have great individual seasons but also help punch Ole Miss’ ticket back into the CFP.
Coaching Changes
Along with a new head coach, Ole Miss welcomes John David Baker as the new assistant coach and offensive coordinator. Baker was previously the tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator at Ole Miss from 2021-2023 before becoming offensive coordinator at East Carolina from 2024-2025.
Chambliss has said that the transition from Charlie Wise to Baker has been easy. Baker has a familiarity with the offense due to his prior time at Ole Miss that could prove to be valuable. Fall camp will give us a better idea of how a Baker offense may differ from previous years.
Joe Judge returns as the quarterbacks coach for the Rebels with a new head coach of offense title. Judge has an impressive resume, with time spent in the NFL with the Patriots and Giants. He has been with Ole Miss since 2024 and provides familiarity for Chambliss and the offense this year.
On defense, Bryan Brown was promoted to defensive coordinator, which presents some interesting questions in terms of coaching responsibilities. I’m curious to see Golding’s involvement with the defense this season as he takes on the position of head coach.
With his staff in place, Golding turns his attention towards preparing a roster that looks slightly different from the one he inherited last year.
What is Golding looking for in fall camp?
Golding’s goal of fall camp is to put Rebels in as many game-like situations as possible. He emphasized that he wants to simulate the high-pressure scenarios through practice so players aren’t as nervous when the season comes.
In his first fall-camp press conference yesterday, Golding sounded pleased with how the new players have integrated into the team. Although the first fall practices are just beginning, he feels as though they’ve been preparing the whole summer.
Preparation was a main point of Golding’s fall camp goals. It goes hand in hand with his philosophy of simulating in-game moments. Not only preparation mentally but also physically with how they execute in the weight room and manage injuries.
Ole Miss enters camp relatively healthy. Golding mentioned some minor injuries to members of the receiving corps but said it’s nothing to be too concerned about. In a league such as the SEC, player health is a necessity; one way to manage that is through a deep roster.
New Additions to the Roster:
With over 50 new players being welcomed into the town of Oxford, there are many storylines and position battles to keep an eye on. Playing in the SEC isn’t about the 11 guys you put on either side of the ball; it’s about the depth you have when injuries arise or other things don’t go as planned.
Here are a few players that not only make an immediate impact on the Rebels roster but also provide that depth for the coming years.
Horatio Fields, transfer wide receiver from Auburn, looks to replace some of the missing pieces in the receiver room. Fields is coming off a 2025 season that ended early due to a foot injury, making him less talked about this offseason.
The 6’2”, 210 lb receiver has shown impressive hands while at Wake Forest and an ability to get open in broken-play scenarios. This could be very effective with a quarterback like Trinidad Chambliss.
Sophomore quarterback Deuce Knight also transferred to the Rebels from interconference opponent Auburn. Knight, a Mississippi native, only appeared in two games while at Auburn but still managed to impress with his running ability. Mobility is something we’ve seen from lots of recent Ole Miss quarterbacks, especially Chambliss. I’m excited to see how Knight can learn from Chambliss and potentially be the future of Ole Miss.
Perhaps one of the biggest stories when it comes to Ole Miss transfers is sophomore linebacker Luke Ferrelli. In his freshman season last year at California, Ferrelli totaled 91 tackles, including five tackles for loss and one sack. After losing TJ Dottery to Kiffin’s LSU, Ferrelli has a chance to fill a massive spot in the middle of the defense. Suntarine Perkins and Ferrelli could be a dangerous combo at linebacker if Ferrelli can take that leap as such a young player.
Joenel Aguero, a transfer safety from Georgia, could be making an immediate impact on the secondary. Aguero is a hybrid safety that combines speed and power, making him a threat in the run game. He’s also been an effective coverage safety, allowing an 87.4 career passer rating to opposing quarterbacks when targeted. The secondary was a thin position last year for the Rebels, and this offseason only made it thinner. Aguero can be a solid reinforcement to Pete Golding’s secondary.
Blake Purchase, a transferred defensive end and edge rusher from Oregon, provides extra depth to one of the Rebels’ most stacked positions. With players like Kam Franklin, Suntarine Perkins, and Jordan Renaud, Purchase will make this defensive line scary for opposing offenses. Purchase is 6’3″, 250 lbs, and is an athletic edge. This gives Golding another option to rotate into an already strong defensive line.
As more days of fall camp roll by, we’ll get a better understanding of how players have been progressing through the offseason. There are so many new players to watch out for and roster decisions yet to be made.
Offensive Line Questions
Speaking of roster decisions, the offensive line presents one of the more interesting position battles early in the year. While the offensive skill positions are stacked for the Rebels, none of that matters if the offensive line struggles.
Diego Pounds and Jayden Williams, both tackles for the Rebels last season, were drafted in this year’s NFL draft. These are two crucial positions for Golding and the Rebels to fill if they want repeated success from their star players.
Terez Davis has been the main name coming up in the left tackle conversation. This is probably the most important position on the offensive line, considering it protects Chambliss’ blindside.
At right tackle the decision gets a little more interesting. Veteran interior lineman Patrick Kutas has expressed interest in moving out to tackle, which would solve the tackle need but then create a hole at guard.
Tommy Kinsler IV from Miami, Carius Curne from LSU, and Troy Everett from Oklahoma will all be in consideration for a starting spot. Offensive line coach John Garrison will have some tough decisions come week one versus Louisville, but he should feel confident in the number of options available.
In his press conference yesterday, Pete Golding described the offensive line like a puzzle. If this comparison is accurate, Ole Miss has all the right pieces; they just need to put them in the correct spot.
Wrap it up
Even after such a drama-filled postseason, Ole Miss looks exciting beginning fall camp. I really believe Pete Golding and his coaching staff, as well as athletic director Keith Carter, have handled these tough situations as best as possible and retained the expectations that came along with the Ole Miss brand.
With two preseason Heisman candidates and a new defensive-minded head coach with a stacked roster, the Rebels are set to compete with the best teams in the best conference in football.
It definitely won’t be easy for the Rebels. On the road against Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma and at home against Georgia, Auburn, and, of course, LSU. It’s one of the tougher schedules in the country, but that’s what you get playing in the SEC.
I can’t wait to watch Ole Miss this year; I think they truly have one of the most elite offenses and quarterback/running back duos, which will make them hard to slow down. They kick off their season on September 6th against the Louisville Cardinals in Nashville, TN.
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