Pete Golding takes over as head coach following Ole Miss’ 13-2 College Football Playoff season in 2025, while John David Baker arrives from East Carolina as offensive coordinator. Trinidad Chambliss returns at quarterback. Kewan Lacy returns as the leading running back after averaging 104 rushing yards per game last season, while Michigan State transfer Makhi Frazier joins the backfield after averaging 58 yards per game in 2025. The Rebels must replace their top two receivers, Harrison Wallace and De’Zhaun Stribling, but Deuce Alexander returns after making 44 catches last season. Syracuse transfers Johntay Cook II and Darrell Gill Jr. join the receiving corps after recording 45 and 32 receptions, respectively, in 2025, while Luke Hasz returns at tight end. The offensive line returns three full-time starters on the interior, with Brycen Sanders and Patrick Kutas each making 15 starts last season and Delano Townsend making 11, while Ole Miss will break in new starters at both tackle positions.
Bryan Brown, who served on Golding’s staff last season, takes over as defensive coordinator. Ole Miss returns just three of its top eleven tacklers from 2025, but all three were full-time starters. Defensive ends Suntarine Perkins and William Echoles each started all 15 games, while Kam Franklin also made 15 starts along the defensive front. The linebacker group adds experienced transfers Keaton Thomas from Baylor and Luke Ferrelli from California after each making 12 starts last season. The secondary returns Antonio Kite after making 12 starts and Jaylon Braxton after making eight. Ole Miss also adds considerable experience through the transfer portal, with Jalyn Crawford and Edwin Joseph each coming off 10-start seasons, Joenel Aguero making 12 starts, and Sharif Denson making 11.
Jake Schoonover returns as special teams coordinator with Lucas Carneiro back at placekicker and Oscar Bird returning at punter. Izaiah Hartrup also returns in the return game and could take on a larger role on punt returns following Wallace’s departure. Ole Miss enters 2026 with continuity at quarterback, running back, and along the interior offensive line, but considerable turnover elsewhere following its College Football Playoff run. The Rebels return only three of last season’s top eleven tacklers, although all three started every game, while an experienced group of defensive transfers gives Golding and Brown several proven options throughout the rebuilt unit.