Pete Golding isn’t buying the idea that Texas has suddenly become an ordinary offense.
As Ole Miss heads to Austin this Saturday for a showdown with the No. 19 Longhorns, the Rebels’ defensive coordinator made it clear he still sees plenty to worry about in Steve Sarkisian’s group - even with Texas sitting at two losses and coming off back-to-back defeats against Oklahoma and No. 20 Florida.
Golding, who worked alongside Sarkisian at Alabama for multiple seasons, including 2019 and 2020, didn’t hold back when talking about his former colleague.
"He's one of the best play-callers in the country, and it's not close," Golding said of Sarkisian this week. "What's unique about this year, to me, is when you watch them on tape, they've had a lot of bad luck."
That bad luck, in Golding’s view, has shown up in the details - especially in the passing game, where dropped balls have turned into interceptions. And even though Arch Manning has been part of Texas’ recent struggles with turnovers at critical moments, Golding pushed back on the notion that the quarterback has fallen off.
"The conception that he's not an elite player right now is crazy to me," Golding said of Manning. "I'll get you a 25-play cutup, and he should be the top pick in the draft, and then there's other things that, to this point, he'd probably like to have back."
Golding also pointed to Texas’ résumé as proof that the Longhorns are still capable of playing at a championship level. He noted that they beat No. 3 Ohio State, which was No. 1 at the time, and reminded reporters that Texas spent multiple weeks ranked No. 1 this season.
There’s also a decision looming on the Texas backfield. Running back Hollywood Smothers is questionable, though his teammate Raleek Brown has been right there production-wise and could be ready to fill the same role. Golding said both backs would "start at most places in the country" and emphasized that one of the central traits of Sarkisian’s offense is using the ground game to open up play-action.
For Ole Miss, the message is straightforward: the record hasn’t changed what Texas can do when everything clicks. Golding knows the talent and knows the coaching, which is exactly why the Rebels are treating this like a dangerous matchup in Austin.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Just Got A National Vote Of Confidence Before Texas
Ole Miss is heading into the stretch run with plenty of momentum, and it just picked up a notable endorsement from one of the sports most recognizable voices. On the Pat McAfee show, ESPN analyst Rece Davis said he views the Rebels as a legitimate contender in the 2026 college football season, even putting them in the conversation as the SECs second-best team behind Georgia.
That kind of national confidence matters because the schedule only gets more revealing from here, starting with Texas on deck. Ole Miss already has notable wins over LSU, Missouri and Louisville, and the next few weeks will show whether the Rebels can keep stacking those kinds of results as the second half of the season tightens the margin for error. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Has A Real Opening Against Texas If One Unit Holds Up
Ole Miss comes into this week riding the lift of a strong win and looking at a Texas team that suddenly has real urgency attached to it. The Longhorns have dropped two straight, and the Rebels know they are getting a defense that still carries a strong reputation overall, even if the matchup has changed a bit with a key piece now unavailable on the edge.
Colin Simmons being out with a high ankle sprain matters because it can alter how much pressure Texas gets on Trinidad Chambliss, and that is where this game could tilt if Ole Miss protects well enough. Kewan Lacy has battled injuries but remains an important part of the Rebels' offense, and if he gives them a steady presence, Ole Miss has a path to make this more uncomfortable for Texas than the rankings would suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Gets Rare Vote Of Confidence In Massive Texas Test
Ole Miss is heading into one of its biggest measuring-stick games of the season with an unusual bit of outside optimism attached. ESPN analyst Greg McElroy picked the Rebels to beat Texas, pointing to a Longhorns offensive line that has struggled and the possibility that edge rusher Colin Simmons could be limited by injury, while also noting Ole Miss has the kind of offensive line play that can help it handle a physical road test.
The quarterback situation adds another layer to a matchup already thick with stakes. Steve Sarkisian has hinted at a possible change behind center but still expects Arch Manning to start, and McElroy also pointed out that Texas still brings real defensive strength to the table. For Ole Miss, the challenge is clear: take advantage of the openings that have shown up for Texas while surviving the stretches where the Longhorns can still make life difficult. [Read more 🡒]