2026 SEC Media Day Series: Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss enters 2026 as the SEC's most complete team, even after losing Lane Kiffin and weathering an offseason eligibility storm around QB Trinidad Chambliss. Chambliss and RB Kewan Lacy give the Rebels one of the nation's best backfields, while a rebuilt receiving corps and offensive line remain the biggest question marks. Pete Golding inherits a roster loaded with NFL talent on both sides of the ball, and a favorable SEC slate could send Ole Miss back to the College Football Playoff.

Team Snapshot

• Conference: SEC

• Head Coach: Pete Golding

• 2025 Record: 13-2 Overall, 7-1 SEC

• Key Games: Louisville, LSU, Texas, Georgia

Season Outlook

It’s no secret that the offense is going to have to carry the mail for the Rebels to be successful, and Ole Miss has the athletes to do that. It all starts with QB Trinidad Chambliss, who went from a Clark Kent, mild-mannered backup to an exploding superstar in 2026. With him under center, the Rebels ranked 10th in the country with 297.6 yards of total offense. 

But he’s not the only piece to the puzzle. RB Kewan Lacy is the other part of the two-headed offensive monster, putting up 1,567 yards and 24 TDs. The biggest question marks, however, are at the wide receiver and tackle positions, where Mississippi must replace more than 3,000 yards in receiving production, and both starting offensive tackles in 2026 will have arrived via the transfer portal in the offseason.

The defensive front is anchored by a couple of homegrown products in defensive tackle Will Echols and defensive end Kam Franklin. Linebacker Suntarine Parker excels anywhere, putting up career numbers—179 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks in 2026. The back end is a combination of holdovers Antonio Kite and Jaylon Braxton plus the addition of transfers Edwin Joseph (Florida State) and Jalyn Crawford (Auburn).

2026 Prediction: Projected Record: 11-1 Overall, 8-1 Conference

The biggest problem for Mississippi in the offseason was navigating through the noise of the departure of Head Coach Lane Kiffin and the media circus surrounding the eligibility issue of QB Trinidad Chambliss. The Rebels will benefit from having the LSU Tigers come to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the SEC opener, as well as the extra SEC home game this season. And it’s a blessing to have Texas A&M and Alabama on the schedule. If the stars align and the injury gods are kind, look for Ole Miss to return to the CFP. 

Top NFL Prospects

Kewan Lacy is considered one of the top running backs in the nation. The 5’10”, 210-lb. junior is the epitome of a bell cow back, starting all 15 contests and setting single-season marks for total attempts (306), rushing yards (1,567), and rushing touchdowns (24). The Dallas native is on the early watch list for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and should hear his name called on the second day of the 2027 NFL Draft.

Wide receiver Deuce Alexander will be in his first season in Oxford. The 6’0” and 180-pound junior was redshirted in the 2025 campaign. At Wake Forest, he played in every game before transferring. He comes from great bloodlines, as his father, Hilton, spent three seasons in the NFL. He’s not the biggest guy but has elite speed. He seems to be another second-day draft selection and possibly higher if he has a great season.

Offensive lineman Brycen Sanders is a 6’5”, 310 lb. behemoth who plays with unquestioned toughness. The Chattanooga native played a majority of the last season with a torn rotator cuff that required postseason surgery, and he’s had to battle various mental health issues. Look for him to come off the draft board in the late second or early third round.

Defensive tackle Will Echols burst onto the national scene in 2025. The 6’3” and 310-pound bruiser is a three- down performer who can line up anywhere along the defensive front. He’s proven to be durable, starting all 15 tilts last year. He led Ole Miss with five passes batted down and was a one-man wrecking crew against Georgia in the CFP Quarterfinals at the Sugar Bowl. Versatility makes him a second-day selection.

Suntarine Perkins is considered in some circles as the best outside linebacker in next year’s draft. At a sleek 6’1” and 220 pounds, his exceptional, high 4.5 speed has put him on every early linebacker award watch list. Perkins will be a mid-to-late first-round draft pick in 2026.