Ole Miss does not need John David Baker to copy and paste last year’s offense to keep the Rebels rolling.
That 2025 attack was loaded. Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy powered a unit that finished third in the SEC in points per game at 36.9, while also leading the league in passing yards per game at 313.3 and total yards per game at 489.7. Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. had the Rebels operating like a machine.
Now Baker has the controls, and the expectation is still sky-high. But the biggest adjustment for Ole Miss might not be about speed or style so much as timing.
The Rebels can change the feel of their offense if the defense is allowed to settle in. Too often last season, Ole Miss seemed to be racing the scoreboard and leaving the defense with little chance to catch its breath.
That does not mean the Rebels should stop hunting explosive plays. It does mean Baker could get even more out of this team by leaning into longer, more controlled possessions when the situation calls for it. With Lacy and newcomer Makhi Frazier in the backfield, Ole Miss has the pieces to stack together slower drives and still stay dangerous.
The Georgia game last season showed both sides of that coin. Ole Miss opened by scoring touchdowns on its first five possessions and kept the pressure on early. But Georgia kept answering, the pass rush never truly got going, and eventually the Rebels’ offense ran out of steam in a loss.
Not every game will unfold that way, but the lesson is clear: if Ole Miss can string together 10-to-15 play scoring drives, it gives the defense a better chance to operate on its own terms. Baker can still keep the tempo up, but knowing when to ease off the gas matters just as much.
Chambliss is expected to have a special season and enters as an early Heisman contender. Even so, Baker cannot ask him and Lacy to carry everything alone.
Ole Miss added Syracuse receivers Darrell Gill Jr. and Johntay Cook to help replace what the wideout room lost this offseason, and Deuce Alexander could be part of the answer as well. With that group contributing, the offense has a chance to open up in a different way.
Kiffin’s system had plenty that worked. Baker does not need to mimic it.
What he does need is a feel for the moment - enough tempo to keep defenses stressed, but enough control to keep his own defense from getting worn down by the end of games. If he finds that balance, Ole Miss should be better for it.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffin Faces A New Ole Miss Debate Over Trinidad Chambliss
Trinidad Chambliss went from injury replacement to the face of Ole Miss football in 2025, taking over after Austin Simmons went down and helping push the Rebels to a program-record 13 wins while coming close to reaching the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. His rise has only sharpened the conversation around what it all means for Lane Kiffins reputation, especially after one SEC coach suggested Chamblisss breakout had more to do with the quarterback himself than with the head coach drawing the plays.
Chambliss is back for a final season after winning a court battle to return, and hell do so under Pete Golding as Ole Miss opens 2026 against Louisville with expectations that will be hard to miss. The quarterback is already being talked about as a Heisman Trophy contender, which only adds another layer to the debate in Oxford: whether Kiffins offense helped create the moment, or whether Chambliss was the kind of player who could have turned heads anywhere. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Golding Sees An Early Sign Ole Miss Defense Is Advancing Fast
Pete Golding did not need much time to see why Ole Miss walked into fall camp feeling ahead of schedule on defense. The Rebels carried over continuity from spring and summer workouts, and the return of key pieces like Edwin Joseph and Jordan Renaud gave the staff a familiar base to build on. Golding also pointed to the offseason development structure and the way new offensive coordinator John David Baker helped make the transition smoother, with players already showing a stronger grasp of the playbook than a typical camp opener might suggest.
For a defense trying to take a step forward, that kind of early comfort matters because the real test comes when the tempo rises and mistakes stop being theoretical. Golding believes the groups versatility should help it handle adversity, but fall camp is where that confidence gets stress-tested against pressure, alignment checks and the kind of mental load that can expose whether a unit is truly ahead of the curve. [Read more 🡒]