Ole Miss is heading into 2026 with the kind of roster that keeps people talking. The Rebels are expected to open the season as a top 15 team, and even with losses through the transfer portal and the NFL Draft, there’s still a lot of firepower on hand.
Pete Golding is taking over as head coach in his first full season, and the challenge is clear: keep the momentum rolling after Ole Miss put together one of the best seasons in program history in 2025. That run included playoff wins over Georgia and Tulane, and this group is built to chase something similar.
At quarterback, the job belongs to Trinidad Chambliss. He’s back for his fifth and final season of college football, and the Heisman candidate is already expected to draw plenty of attention in 2026.
Behind him is Deuce Knight, the highly talented transfer from Auburn, who could also be used on designed runs. Walker Howard and AJ Maddox round out the room.
The backfield has star power too. Kewan Lacy enters 2026 after what was described as the best running back season in Ole Miss history in 2025, and he’s another player with Heisman buzz around him. Makhi Frazier adds more depth, and Joshua Dye, Shekai Mills-Knight, and JT Lindsay are all expected to have roles as the Rebels try to keep Lacy fresh.
Receiver looks like another strong group. Deuce Alexander returns and is set up for a breakout year as the top wideout on the roster.
Horatio Fields has stood out in fall camp and appears locked in as a starter, giving Chambliss a bigger target to work with. Johntay Cook is expected to handle the slot role, hoping to make his mark after coming over from Texas.
Caleb Cunningham, Dillon Alfred, and Isiah Spencer are also in the mix.
Tight end is shaping up as a real battle between Luke Hasz and Caleb Odom. Hasz brings the better run-blocking profile and is the shorter red-zone threat, while Odom offers more juice in the passing game and the kind of versatility that can stretch defenses. Michael Smith and Brady Preiskorn provide additional depth.
Up front, Ole Miss has a group that looks a little different but still dangerous. Brycen Sanders returns at center from the 2025 team, and that gives the Rebels an anchor in the middle.
Terez Davis is projected to start at left tackle, while Carius Curne, who transferred from LSU, is in line to lock down the right tackle spot. Patrick Kutas, Delano Townsend, John Wayne Oliver, and Tommy Kinsler are part of the rest of the rotation.
The defensive line might be the scariest part of the roster. Kam Franklin, Will Echoles, and Suntarine Perkins form the big three, and all three were key pieces in the 2025 run.
They’re expected to keep causing problems for opposing offensive lines. Jehiem Otis and Jonathan Maldonado are also in the group, while Blake Purchase and Landon Barnes are newcomers who should see meaningful snaps during the regular season.
Michai Boireau is another name in the mix.
Linebacker is led by Keaton Thomas and Luke Ferrelli, both of whom transferred in during 2025. Thomas is being talked about like an All American-type player entering 2026. Tah’j Butler and Suntarine Perkins are listed behind them, and the rest of the depth chart there could still shift once fall camp ends.
At cornerback, Antonio Kite is back, and Jayln Crawford, the Auburn transfer, has been excellent in fall camp so far. Sharif Denson and Jalyn Braxton add more options at the position. Safety is expected to be handled by Joenel Aguero and Edwin Joseph, two players who have already shown high-end talent at previous schools.
Ole Miss has talent all over the field, and the projected depth chart shows a team that expects to stay in the national picture.
In Other News...
Chris Beard Mourns A Beloved Ole Miss Fan Who Inspired The Team
Sam Schulzs presence around Ole Miss basketball extended well beyond the stands. The 22-year-old, who lived with the rare genetic condition epidermolysis bullosa, had become a close friend of coach Chris Beard and a familiar source of energy for the program, forging relationships with several players while becoming an avid fan who meant something real inside the teams circle.
Beard publicly mourned Schulz after his death on Aug. 12, calling him a warrior and one of the toughest people he knew. For a team that had clearly come to view Schulz as more than a supporter, the loss lands as both personal and deeply felt, a reminder of how much one fan can matter when he becomes part of the fabric of the program. [Read more 🡒]
Terez Davis Could Be Huge For Ole Miss Playoff Hopes
Terez Davis has quietly become one of the more intriguing pieces of Ole Miss offensive line story. The third-year tackles path has been anything but ordinary, moving from basketball and tight end to offensive tackle before carving out a role that now gives the Rebels another potential anchor up front. In a sport where line depth can shape everything from protection to the run game, Davis development gives Ole Miss another reason to feel better about the pieces around its offense.
Davis has also stayed put despite some transfer interest, a choice that says plenty about where he sees his future. He has leaned on the lessons from his father, former NBA player Ricky Davis, who helped instill both confidence and humility along the way. As the Rebels get ready for the coming season, Davis looks like the kind of player whose rise could end up mattering a great deal if Ole Miss is going to push toward its playoff goals. [Read more 🡒]
Trinidad Chambliss Faces Ole Miss Test SEC Defenses Have Waited For
Trinidad Chambliss steps into this Ole Miss season with a very different kind of attention than he enjoyed a year ago. Back then, defenses had little tape to study and the Rebels could lean on the uncertainty that came with a quarterback still being sized up at this level. Now, the surprise factor is gone, and opposing staffs have had a full year to examine how he plays and where they can try to slow him down.
For Ole Miss, that means the challenge is bigger than just protecting its quarterback. SEC defenses can throw more tailored looks at Chambliss, from quarterback spies to tighter coverage on the outside, while the Rebels work to evolve their offense around those adjustments. The expectation is that Chambliss will have to evolve with it, because the same approach that once caught people off guard will not be there to lean on again. [Read more 🡒]