The spotlight on Ole Miss this summer has mostly landed on the obvious defensive issue: stopping the run. But if the Rebels are going to make another push toward the College Football Playoff in 2026, there’s a second problem that deserves just as much attention - and it’s not getting nearly enough of it.
Pete Golding is entering a new chapter as head coach, and the 2026 season will be his first full run through an SEC regular season in that role. He guided Ole Miss through the College Football Playoff this past season, but now the pressure shifts to what the Rebels look like over the long haul, not just in a postseason burst.
The run defense was a real sore spot a year ago. Ole Miss gave up 147 rushing yards per game, which ranked fifth-most in the SEC.
That has already been identified as a major focus this summer, and for good reason. Still, the Rebels’ issues didn’t stop there.
The bigger concern might be the lack of takeaways. Ole Miss finished last season with just 18 turnovers forced, also fifth-most in the conference.
At the same time, the offense gave it away 15 times, leaving the Rebels with only a +3 turnover margin. That’s not the kind of number that usually travels well in the SEC, and it’s one the defense has to improve if it wants to take a real step forward.
Golding’s influence will remain central to the unit, but Bryan Brown is the name to watch on the defensive side. Brown will serve as the Rebels’ defensive coordinator in 2026 after returning to the program before the 2024 season as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
There’s already a built-in familiarity there between Golding and Brown, but the way that partnership works now matters more than ever. Golding is the head coach, Brown is leading the defense, and one of the quieter questions around Ole Miss this summer is how much control Golding keeps on that side of the ball.
That’s part of the natural adjustment for any first-time head coach. The growing pains are coming one way or another. The real test for Ole Miss is whether the defense can create more disruption, not just hold up against the run.
The schedule won’t make anything easier, and that’s no surprise in the SEC. If the Rebels are going to get back to the biggest stage at the end of the season, the defense has to do more than just survive. It has to swing games.
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