Ole Miss walked into its matchup with Texas needing a response and left with more questions. A flat opening half helped sink the Rebels in a 34-27 loss, and the result sent Pete Golding’s team sliding in the latest AP Poll. With two losses already, Ole Miss is suddenly in a dangerous spot, because one more setback could wipe out the Rebels’ College Football Playoff hopes.
What Texas laid bare on Saturday was a defense that gave up too much space and too many clean finishes. Ole Miss missed tackles, struggled on the perimeter and surrendered 11 big plays, defined as runs of 10-plus yards or passes of 15-plus yards. Texas running back Raleek Brown was a major problem, piling up 157 yards as the Longhorns controlled the line of scrimmage late.
That wasn’t a one-game warning sign, either. Florida had already shown the Rebels could be pushed around on the ground, and while the defensive performances against Vanderbilt and Missouri offered some encouragement, Saturday was a clear step back.
“We didn’t obviously start the game the way we would like to. Couldn’t really get anything.
Couldn’t get in rhythm on offense, Golding said in his opening statement on Saturday. "And then from a defensive standpoint, a lot of ups and downs.
You know, we had some good series and then didn’t leverage the football on the perimeter. You know, we’ve shown before and had some missed tackles and then gave up a couple explosives in the pass game."
The offense has its own issues to sort out, and the timing could hardly be worse. Kewan Lacy dislocated his shoulder and will miss this week’s game against Auburn. Before leaving the game, he was held to 2.3 yards per carry on 16 attempts by Texas.
Ole Miss got one burst from Makhi Frazier, a 34-yard run, but outside of that play he finished with five carries for 13 yards. The Rebels have not looked like a team built on the run this season, and the numbers back it up: they’ve produced just one 100-yard rusher, Lacy with 122, and they rank 12th in the SEC in rushing yards per game at 148.
That’s a sharp drop from where Ole Miss was a year ago. Through seven games last season, the Rebels already had four 100-yard rushers.
One of the more surprising developments has been the quiet start on the ground from Trinidad Chambliss. Since Week 1, he has only 74 rushing yards, a far cry from the role his legs played in his success last season.
With Lacy out, Ole Miss has to find a way to keep the run game afloat anyway. The margin for error is gone, and the Rebels need answers fast.
In Other News...
Pete Golding Defends The Ole Miss Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Ole Miss fought all the way back from a 24-3 hole against Texas, but the rally ended in heartbreak when Lucas Carneiros 58-yard field goal attempt was blocked late. The Rebels had given themselves a chance after digging out of a deep early deficit, and the finish came down to a choice that was as much about game management as it was about distance.
Pete Golding backed the decision to send Carneiro out there on fourth-and-long, pointing to previous decisions and the flow of the game as reasons the staff trusted the kick. Trinidad Chambliss had already put the Rebels in a tough spot with multiple interceptions, including a costly one before halftime, and the loss left plenty for Ole Miss to sort through after a game that was both resilient and frustrating. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Suddenly Has A Bigger Kewan Lacy Concern Than Auburn
Kewan Lacys availability has become a major issue for Ole Miss heading into the Auburn game on Oct. 31, and the concern is now bigger than just one matchup. The running back will not play against Auburn after suffering a dislocated left shoulder in the third quarter against Texas, adding another setback to a shoulder that has already been a problem for him.
Pete Golding confirmed there is no chance Lacy suits up for Auburn, though the door is not fully closed on a return after Week 9. Given the history with that same shoulder, including offseason surgery in 2025, Ole Miss is left waiting to see how much time Lacy actually needs before he can get back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Let A Statement Win Slip Away And Paid For It
The latest AP Top 25 brought plenty of movement after a wild Week 8 slate, and Ole Miss was right in the middle of it after letting a statement opportunity slip away. With three top-10 teams taking losses and Texas making the biggest climb of the week after beating the Rebels, the poll made clear how quickly one result can reshape the conversation around a contender.
For Ole Miss, the drop is less about the number next to its name and more about what it surrendered in a game that could have changed its standing nationally. Miami stayed at No. 1, while Utah and UCLA kept their perfect records intact, but the Rebels are left looking at a missed chance to join that upper tier and wondering how much ground they can still make back. [Read more 🡒]