Pete Golding's Wins in Playoff and Transfer Portal Fueling Strong Start at Ole Miss

Story by

Story by
Pete Golding's Wins in Playoff and Transfer Portal Fueling Strong Start at Ole Miss

Steven Lassan · Athlon Sports

Wed, Jan 7, 2026 ·

4 min read

About Our Ads

Whether it's the playoff success or the roster management, the good news is rolling in Oxford under new coach Pete Golding almost as fast as the Ole Miss offense has been known to put up points on the scoreboard. Golding, a first-time head coach, has been in charge for less than a month following Lane Kiffin's departure to LSU . However, whether it's the on-field success or moves to build the roster for next year, he's pushed all of the right buttons so far.

The Rebels handled Tulane in the first round to earn the program's first playoff victory, followed by a 39-34 upset of Georgia in last week's Sugar Bowl quarterfinals. Ole Miss is a win over Miami on Thursday night from playing for the national championship and two victories away from hoisting the program's first title since 1962.

However, while the playoff wins are garnering the bulk of the attention nationally, the first-time head coach is also recording some massive victories away from the field as he reshapes this program for '26 and beyond.

With a talented roster in place, retention and not losing any key players to the portal (potentially to LSU ) was a priority. The Rebels' high-powered offense landed a big-time win with running back Kewan Lacy signing a new deal with the program for '26. Also, optimism is growing that quarterback Trinidad Chambliss will be awarded an extra year of eligibility.

Ole Miss Rebels running back Kewan Lacy rushes against the Tulane Green Wave during their playoff game on Dec. 20, 2025.Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

With Lacy and potentially Chambliss back in '26, even with a new play-caller (John David Baker), the Ole Miss offense should light up the scoreboard once again and rank among the best in the nation.

Help is also on the way from the portal to address an offensive line with holes to fill on the edges next fall. Former LSU tackle Carius Curne (306 snaps in '25) committed to the Rebels as one of the top offensive linemen available in the portal.

A similar effort is underway on defense. Standout edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen (12 tackles for a loss and eight sacks in '25) signed to return next fall, and Golding's work in the portal has already paid off with a couple of impact additions.

Golding's defense returned only two starters from last season, yet still held teams to 5.2 yards a play and 20.4 points a contest. Each level of this unit has to navigate turnover for '26, but Golding and his staff are quickly restocking the depth chart from the portal.

Up front, a rush defense ranked 12th in the SEC in '25 has interior help on the way with Michai Boireau ( Florida ) and Jehiem Oatis ( Colorado ) committing this portal cycle. Nevada transfer Jonathan Maldonado (29 quarterback hurries in '25, per PFF) should find a role as a pass rusher next fall.

At the second level, a pair of standouts in Chris Jones ( Southern Miss ) and Keaton Thomas (Baylor) are big-time pickups to bolster the linebacker unit. And in the secondary, a pair of SEC transfers in Jay Crawford ( Auburn ) and Sharif Denson (Florida) will help right away at cornerback.

Also, kicker Lucas Carneiro - one of the MVPs of the Sugar Bowl win - was also retained for '26 after connecting on 27 of 30 field goals this season.

Losing a coach of Kiffin's caliber was certainly a massive setback for Ole Miss. And while roster building and program management will only get harder for Golding, the on-field performance and first moves in the portal for the '26 cycle clearly show he's up for the job and capable of keeping this program near the top of the SEC.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: