Ole Miss should have no trouble finding the end zone once it gets close.
That’s the big takeaway from a 2026 offense that looks built to keep finishing drives the same way it did in 2025: with power on the ground, size at tight end and a quarterback who can hurt defenses with his legs. Even with Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. gone to LSU, the Rebels are still projected to be one of the nation’s most dangerous red-zone teams.
The challenge, of course, is that the road to the College Football Playoff just got tougher. With the SEC moving to a nine-game schedule, Ole Miss will have one more conference opponent on the 2026 slate, making the path to another playoff run significantly more difficult than it was in 2025.
Still, there’s plenty of confidence around Oxford as Pete Golding takes over as head coach. Ole Miss returns several important players and has also boosted its defense through the transfer portal, giving the program and its fan base real reason to believe another CFP push is in play.
Inside the 20, the Rebels have the kind of pieces that can make life miserable for defenses. Tight end Caleb Odom, at six-foot-five, gives Trinidad Chambliss a big target for contested catches and another weapon in scoring territory.
Luke Hasz is back too, and while he wasn’t heavily involved during the regular season, he did catch a crucial touchdown against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. With Dae'Quan Wright now in the NFL, Hasz should see more opportunities.
That tight end production fits the way Ole Miss likes to operate. The Rebels have long leaned on the position in both the run game and the passing game, and with that talent returning, there’s every reason to expect the same kind of usage in high-leverage moments this fall.
Then there’s Kewan Lacy, who could be headed for a Heisman campaign after a 2025 season that saw him set the program record for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a player. He’s the kind of back who turns red-zone snaps into real problems for a defense.
Chambliss adds another layer. Ole Miss used designed runs for him often in 2025, and he finished with eight rushing touchdowns, including two in the Rebels’ first-round playoff game against Tulane. That dual-threat element gives the offense another way to cash in when the field shrinks.
Put it all together, and Ole Miss looks ready to keep leaning on the run near the goal line in 2026. The personnel says the Rebels should keep piling up touchdowns once they get inside the 20.
In Other News...
Pete Golding Just Sent A Clear Message About Ole Miss Leadership
Pete Golding is headed to Tampa for his first SEC Media Days as Ole Miss head coach, and the group traveling with him says plenty about where the program wants to go next. Trinidad Chambliss, Kewan Lacy and Will Echoles will represent the Rebels ahead of the 2026 season, giving Golding a chance to put three of the faces of the roster in front of the league before camp even opens.
The selections also hint at how Ole Miss is sorting out its leadership structure for the year ahead, with the expectation that these players will help set the tone on both sides of the ball. Media Days often become a showcase for established stars, but this trip feels like an early signal from Golding about who he trusts to carry the message as the Rebels move toward a season with real expectations attached. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Has One Trusted Veteran Chambliss Cant Afford To Lose
Brycen Sanders is back in the middle of the Ole Miss offensive line for 2026, and that matters more than most people outside the program might realize. A veteran center can steady everything around him, and Sanders has become one of the most important pieces in front of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, giving the Rebels a familiar anchor as they try to keep their offense humming.
Sanders value goes beyond snapping the ball. He has handled protection calls, helped sort out fronts and relayed blitz information before the snap, the kind of work that rarely gets much attention until it is missing. With Chambliss coming off a huge 2025 season and carrying heavyweight expectations into the fall, Ole Miss has a lot riding on the one trusted veteran it can least afford to lose. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Faces A Massive Recruiting Test For Elite 5-Star Back
Ole Miss is in the mix for one of the most coveted backs in the 2027 class, as five-star David Gabriel Georges has trimmed his list to Tennessee, Ohio State and the Rebels. Ranked No. 10 overall, Georges brings the kind of national attention that can swing a recruiting cycle, and his upcoming decision has turned into a real test of how far Ole Miss can push against two heavyweights on the trail.
Georges is expected to announce his commitment on July 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET, and the buzz around the race has centered on Tennessee and Ohio State as the programs to beat. Recruiting experts have pointed to Tennessee as the current favorite, but until Georges makes it official, Ole Miss still has a chance to land a player who would instantly change the conversation around its 2027 class. [Read more 🡒]