Pete Golding isn’t buying the doom-and-gloom talk around a proposed 24-team College Football Playoff.
As Ole Miss prepares for a big Week 8 trip to Austin to face a Texas team that is reeling, the Rebels’ head coach made clear he sees the expansion as a positive for the sport. Ole Miss reached the College Football Playoff semifinals last year, and Golding believes his team is good enough to make another run.
The bigger argument, though, is the one swirling around the playoff itself. A move to 24 teams has sparked plenty of pushback from fans and media members who worry it will chip away at the importance of the regular season. Golding sees it differently.
“Once we’ve gone to the nine-SEC model, I think they were concerned about watering down the regular season,” Golding told reporters on Monday. “I think it would be really healthy for college football.”
“Once we've gone to the nine SEC model, I think they were concerned about watering down the regular season.”
“I think it would be really healthy for college football.”
-Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding on the proposed 24-team playoff
For those opposing the change, the concern is straightforward: more playoff spots could lessen the sting of a loss and make some schools less willing to schedule major non-conference games. Golding, though, is one of the first coaches to publicly plant his flag on the other side of that debate.
It’ll be worth watching whether more coaches step forward and echo his stance.
In Other News...
Ole Miss Catches A Huge Break In High Stakes Texas Showdown
Ole Miss got a significant early boost for its trip to Texas, with the Longhorns expected to be without standout defensive end Colin Simmons after he suffered a high ankle sprain against Florida. Simmons was ruled out for the rest of that game, and his status now figures to be evaluated week to week, a notable development for a matchup that already had plenty riding on it.
Simmons has been one of the most disruptive defenders in the country and leads the nation in sacks, so his absence changes the look of a Texas front that typically leans on him to set the tone. For Ole Miss, it removes one of the toughest individual problems on the schedule and adds another layer of intrigue to a game that was already shaping up as a high-stakes test. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Looks Ready For Much Bigger Games After Statement Win
Ole Miss spent Saturday looking every bit like a team built for the bigger stage, taking control early and never really letting Missouri get comfortable in a 31-3 win. The Rebels defense set the tone throughout the afternoon, keeping the Tigers away from their preferred answers and making the kind of steady, disciplined stops that can travel well when the schedule tightens up.
Pete Goldings group now heads into the heart of SEC play with some real momentum behind it, and his record against ranked opponents sits at 6-1 after another statement performance. The challenge for Ole Miss is obvious enough: this level of defensive sharpness has to hold when the opposition gets tougher, because the next stretch will say a lot about whether this was simply a strong showing or a preview of what the Rebels can sustain. [Read more 🡒]
Pete Golding Sends Ole Miss Fans A Warning About Arch Manning
Pete Golding spent part of the buildup to Ole Miss meeting with Texas pushing back on the easy take about Arch Manning. The Rebels defensive coordinator said the notion that Manning is not an elite player is crazy, a notable stance given the turnovers that have shadowed the quarterbacks season. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has already confirmed Manning will stay in the lineup against Ole Miss, which keeps the focus on how the Rebels plan to handle a passer Golding clearly still views as a major challenge.
Golding pointed to more than just the stat sheet, crediting Mannings athletic ability and past success while suggesting some of the struggles have been a matter of bad luck. For Ole Miss, that kind of warning matters because it comes from inside the opposing scouting report, not from a fan debate or a headline. If Manning settles in, the Rebels know they could be facing a quarterback Golding believes is far better than the public conversation has suggested. [Read more 🡒]