- College football’s best backfield leads the way: Ole Miss pairs PFF’s No. 4 quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, with No. 2 running back Kewan Lacy entering 2026.
- Offensive line remains the biggest concern: The Rebels lost both starting tackles to the NFL, while all three returning interior starters earned PFF grades below 65.0 last season.
- Kewan Lacy returns after a massive 2025 season: Lacy led the FBS with 307 rushing attempts and all Power Four running backs with 24 rushing touchdowns.
The 2025 season was a roller coaster for Ole Miss. The Rebels finished the regular season 11-1 and secured the first College Football Playoff berth in program history, only for head coach Lane Kiffin to leave for LSU before the playoff began.
Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to head coach and kept the season on track, leading Ole Miss past Tulane in the first round before an upset of Georgia in the quarterfinals. The Rebels’ storybook run ended in the final seconds of their semifinal matchup with Miami (FL).
Ole Miss finished No. 3 in the AP poll, its highest final ranking since 1962.
Notable Transfer Portal Additions
- WR Darrell Gill (Syracuse)
- WR Johntay Cook II (Syracuse)
- CB Jay Crawford (Auburn)
- LB Luke Ferrelli (California)
- LB Keaton Thomas (Baylor)
Notable Transfer Portal Losses
- ED Princewill Umanmielen (LSU)
- WR Cayden Lee (Missouri)
- ED Da’shawn Womack (Auburn)
- WR Winston Watkins (LSU)
- LB T.J. Dottery (LSU)
Biggest strength: The best backfield in college football
After winning an injunction against the NCAA that granted him another season of eligibility, Trinidad Chambliss returns to lead Ole Miss and enters 2026 as our No. 4 quarterback in the country.
He’ll be joined in the backfield by Kewan Lacy, the cover athlete for EA Sports College Football 27 and our No. 2 running back in the nation, giving the Rebels one of the best quarterback-running back tandems in college football.
Biggest question mark: Can they continue to thrive despite a below-average offensive line?
Ole Miss’ offensive line was good enough for Trinidad Chambliss and company to work around last season, but the unit lost both starting offensive tackles to the NFL. Delano Townsend, Brycen Sanders and Patrick Kutas return on the interior, though all three earned PFF grades below 65.0 in 2025.
There are also questions at tackle, where Terez Davis and LSU transfer Carius Curne are among the unproven options. As talented as the Rebels’ backfield is, the offensive line could become a significant issue against the SEC’s better defensive fronts.
Quarterback: Trinidad Chambliss
Chambliss came out of nowhere to become one of college football’s biggest revelations last season. After replacing the injured Austin Simmons, he never relinquished the starting job, winning SEC Newcomer of the Year and leading Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
His 87.3 PFF grade ranked 13th among qualified FBS quarterbacks, and he committed just four turnovers all season. His Russell Wilson-esque playmaking style and ability to thrive under pressure became defining traits down the stretch.
With Chambliss running the offense, Ole Miss has a chance to beat anyone on its schedule.
Offensive Player Spotlight: RB Kewan Lacy
Lacy transferred to Ole Miss after receiving just 23 carries as a true freshman at Missouri, then emerged as the ultimate workhorse for the Rebels in his sophomore season. His 307 rushing attempts led the FBS.
He also led all Power Four running backs with 24 rushing touchdowns while ranking second in rushing yards (1,564), yards after contact (1,010) and forced missed tackles (89). His 91.6 PFF rushing grade ranked sixth in the nation.
Defensive Player Spotlight: DT Will Echoles
Echoles is one of the most durable and productive defensive tackles in college football. Including the postseason, he led all Power Four interior defenders with 765 snaps and 35 defensive stops last season. He also showed a knack for disrupting passing lanes, batting down six passes at the line of scrimmage.
Echoles’ 79.3 PFF grade ranked fifth among qualified SEC defensive tackles in 2025, and he should continue to produce at a high level this season.
Bottom Line
With Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy leading the offense, Ole Miss has the star power to make another College Football Playoff run in 2026. Even without Lane Kiffin, the Rebels have enough talent to remain among the SEC’s top contenders.
© 2026 PFF - all rights reserved.