Pete Golding’s Head Coaching Debut Is a Statement Win as Ole Miss Rolls Into CFP Quarterfinals
OXFORD - Three weeks ago, Pete Golding was calling plays as Ole Miss’ defensive coordinator. Fast forward to now, and he’s leading the program into uncharted territory - as a first-time head coach in the thick of the College Football Playoff.
And if there were any questions about how the Rebels would respond to the coaching change, they answered them loudly on Saturday. Ole Miss didn’t just win - they dominated, cruising past Tulane 41-10 to punch their ticket to the CFP quarterfinals.
This wasn’t just a team surviving a transition. This was a team thriving under it.
From the opening kickoff, Ole Miss looked sharp, focused, and fully bought in. Golding’s fingerprints were all over the performance - the defensive discipline, the energy on the sidelines, and the way the team executed with confidence.
It didn’t feel like a debut. It felt like a coach stepping into a role he was ready for.
After the game, Golding took a moment to soak in the moment with his family - a rare pause in the whirlwind of postseason football.
“It was awesome,” he said. “My boys love football more than anything and I dragged them to about every state, so they have a lot invested in the sport and this place as well. It was super special.”
That personal investment matters. Golding’s journey - from a defensive mind behind the scenes to the man leading a playoff-caliber program - is about more than X’s and O’s.
It’s about culture, continuity, and belief. And on Saturday, his team played like they believed in every bit of it.
Ole Miss now turns its attention to the next round of the College Football Playoff - a stage the program has never been on before. But if their first showing under Golding is any indication, they’re not just happy to be here.
They’re ready to make some noise.