SEC Media Days rolled on in Tampa on Wednesday, and Ole Miss brought a familiar mix of confidence and unfinished business to the podium.
Head coach Pete Golding was there, along with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy and defensive tackle Will Echoles. But Lacy, coming off a huge season, was the one drawing plenty of attention as the Rebels look ahead to 2026.
A lot of the offseason chatter around Oxford centered on what the roster would look like after Lane Kiffin’s sudden departure for LSU. Ole Miss kept several of its top players, and Lacy was among the biggest names to stay put.
For him, the decision came down to more than football.
"I feel like the main reason that I stayed at Ole Miss was just the culture and the people and the fans," Lacy said. "I feel like the culture we built here is amazing, and it's still building. I feel like we still have some unfinished business."
That’s the kind of answer Ole Miss fans wanted to hear, especially with the Rebels coming off a run to the College Football Playoff semifinal before falling to Miami. Even after a strong transfer portal haul, the goals in Oxford haven’t changed, and Lacy and Chambliss give the Rebels two legitimate Heisman-level names to build around.
Lacy made it clear he has big personal goals in mind, too.
"I'd say one goal of mine, of course, is the Heisman," Lacy said. "Then I want 2,000 all-purpose yards.
That's one of my goals. But I think me just being the best I can be is going to help my team.
He was also asked about Kiffin, though the bigger message from his comments was about the direction Ole Miss is taking now. Lacy said preparation, work and staying dialed in will be key for the Rebels when they get ready for their week three matchup against the Tigers.
His praise for Golding stood out as well.
"Having P.G. as a coach, you just know what you're going to get. You know he's the same guy every day, no matter who is in front of him.
So just knowing that just gives me so much respect for him. And it's easy to play for a coach like that who is going to keep it real with you."
Ole Miss enters 2026 with high expectations, and with the talent and mindset it has back in place, the Rebels believe they can keep pushing forward after last season’s breakthrough.
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