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Tyler Comus
Indiana can sort of cement itself as we are no longer this team that's going to be fighting for six wins anymore. Malachi Toney.
Bud Elliott
Is he going to be ready?
Jack Archer Promoter
Dante Moore.
Tyler Comus
He showed improvement, better command.
Bud Elliott
What's going on y'?
Tyler Comus
All?
Bud Elliott
Bud Elliott here of the Covered College Ball podcast. And this is Summer School. We are back in session. That's Tyler Comus, first time guest here. Rebel Grove covering all things Ole Miss Tyler, welcome to summer school, man.
Tyler Comus
Thanks for having me, bud. Yeah, I'm. I'm excited to be here. Spring's winding down and summer's right around the corner now.
Bud Elliott
Yeah, man. Excited. So, like last year, Ole Miss, pretty awesome year, to be honest. Like, best year I think that I can recall in, in my lifetime. How is it covering that?
Tyler Comus
It was awesome. I mean, it. It felt like two different seasons. Honestly, professionally, I thought it was a great experience. Honestly, on the beat, a little chaotic at times, but it was a fun ride to Chronicle and I guess be a part of in some really small way. But. Oh, man, that Sugar bowl win against Georgia, I didn't pick. I picked Georgia to win the game. I thought it could be close. Just didn't think Ole Miss had enough, especially defensively because they didn't stop Georgia the. The previous matchup. And then to come within just one defensive stop short of appearing in the national championship game. I, I mean, it was almost out of a Hollywood movie script, maybe if they want it all, but not quite.
Bud Elliott
It felt like, you know, towards the end of the year, obviously, with Lane Kiffin leaving, Golding's job was kind of to land the plane and certainly like, I think he did that, you know, exceeding all expectations, but now he kind of gets to, you know, choose his own path. What are things that he's doing differently than Lane Kiven did?
Tyler Comus
Not a whole lot, honestly. I guess the biggest difference I've really seen is just that he's a lot more hands off with the offense. Has pretty much, to my knowledge, no involvement, which is obviously very, very different. He hired, you know, they hired John David Baker. Pretty familiar. He. They were on the staff together for that 2023 season. Baker was the co offensive coordinator. So a lot of the same philosophies, but I think that's one of the biggest things or aspects of why they hired Golding. They were so keen on on retain, retention and retaining even the offensive guys. We knew the defensive guys probably a lot more were going to stay than the offense, but offensively they ended up getting a lot more returners than we initially thought. So right off the bat, that's the biggest difference at the mic. Not having to decipher tweets. That's different. But a lot of personality from Golding at the mic. I used to think Lane Kiffin, maybe on broader subjects, was really real, but when it came to the team, maybe more so pushing out whatever narrative he wanted. Golding, I mean, you can tell when he wants to hold back or when he wants to give something off, but he's been great at the mic. So a little bit, little bit of differences, but not too much, honestly. At least what the players tell us,
Bud Elliott
there's a little like Leech to Kiffin in some ways. Leach was so good at telling like fun stories, but also like you'd walk out of a press conference like he didn't really say anything about the team at all. You know, it's less charming, I think, than, than Leech was in, in some ways certainly. So offensively they're running something pretty similar to what I, I think they ran last year, obviously with the new coordinator set up. Any real changes there? Like, like schematically, that you expect?
Tyler Comus
Schematically, no, not much. Joe Judge is still there as well, working really tightly with the quarterbacks. Head coach of the offense is his title as well as quarterbacks coach, but schematically, no, I, I don't expect too much to change. I think what we've heard, it's mostly just the terminology that John David Baker has really changed. I think I want to say the quote was 80% the same on offense.
Bud Elliott
Wow. Okay. Obviously like some of the huge use of the off season was that Trinidad Chambliss, you know, won his court case at least as we sit here today. And I wouldn't expect him to have that result reversed or the fact that he passed on the draft. Obviously, like, you know, not great size. Arm is pretty strong, it looks like. And I mean an 88 PFF grade over almost, you know, a thousand snaps, you know, 4,000 yards. Almost like just an incredible season, like a legendary game against Georgia. What. Why did he come other than like, look, obviously there's uncertainty as to where you get drafted and you're, you know, you're probably getting, you know, one of the highest paid players in the sport and making real life changing money. Is there like something on the field why he came back? Like, is there an area he thinks he can actually improve in? You know, like, you're not going to get taller, but like, where can he improve to actually improve his draft stock, which also would, would help this team?
Tyler Comus
That's a great question and I think there's a lot there. Obviously the money is a big part of it too, but I think development wise, I think he really, actually could really benefit from another year at the Division 1 level. I mean, he, he was only there, he came to Ole Miss in June, last June. He still hasn't even been in Oxford for a whole year yet. So I would think as a passer, I Think personally he got better as the season went on. Last four games of the year, Mississippi State and then the postseason. I thought he looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the country, arguably the best. But before that, it was a lot of growing. I thought the offense and it, it. I thought early it was really hard for him to fail in Lane Kiffin's offense with the weapons around him. Kwan Lacy, the offensive line wasn't great, but the part he thrived in and where I thought he really clicked well with that young offensive line was his dual threat, ability to escape the pocket. And you saw that in Georgia. I think he could. I think he does still have some things to improve on, maybe as far as reading defenses and honestly throwing the ball. Accuracy was a little bit of an issue in the early part when he was getting under center. So, yeah, I think he still has some ways to go as a passer. Obviously this past draft, the quarterback class was a little bit weaker than what we expect it to be next year. So there is a little bit of a gamble, but I feel like he thinks he can definitely collect a little bit higher of a paycheck this year and then boost his draft stock on top of it for the long term.
Bud Elliott
Getting Kwon Lacey back in the backfield is huge. Just like such a versatile guy. Like, really good in pass protection when called upon to do so. I mean, almost 1500 yards rushing last year, which was insane. I think we kind of know what he is at this point. Do they have someone around who they can maybe like, lean on some to where like, if there's got to be a game where he's got to tote the rock 25 times, like, it's cool because in the prior game he didn't have to do that, you know, like, like so much.
Tyler Comus
Are you talking about the running back position?
Bud Elliott
Yeah, like, I think we know what Lacy is like summer school, you know, just we try to be like forward looking, fill in the gap. Like, I mean, if you watched any college football last year, Lacy's a stud. But, like, do they. Who else do we like around him?
Tyler Comus
Yeah, that's a great question. They added three transfer backs. J.T. lindsay from LSU, Joshua Dye from Utah State, I want to say, and then Makai Frazier, the running. Who's really been the feature this spring, actually transfer from Michigan State, I believe. He was 247 Sports's number eight transfer portal back. So they like him smaller. Says he's a downhill. More of a downhill runner, I believe. Led Michigan State last year in rushing yards. With over 500. So he was kind of actually the featured back this spring because Lacy, as you said, he had a really high workload, especially towards the end of the year when they really needed him. Hurt his shoulder in that opening CFP game against Tulane and it, and it did. I mean it didn't affect his performances, but it affected the way he felt and way he approached the offseason as he was a limited participant this the entire spring. So I would look for Makai Frazier to kind of take some workload off Lacey come this fall and that scenario where Golding has kind of emphasized where they wanted to attack experience and get more depth because last year their second leading running back in carries was Logan Diggs and I believe he had less than 40. Lacy had over 300 touches. So they want to, they hope to have less mileage on Lacey Racing in
Bud Elliott
2026 and it keeps him fresh for those critical games where you really, really need them. Receiver and tight end, they lose a ton. Man like Stribling went what second round of the Niners. Harrison Wallace I saw got picked up as a udfa. Daquan Wright, also an underrated free agent. How is this going to shake out? Like is do sell, like does it. Can he elevate to like a number one position or are there other guys that they're expecting to step in?
Tyler Comus
They're banking on Alexander being that number one. He, he got that number one jersey, the jersey worn by Dijon, Stribling, a couple other guys. So they expect a lot of a ton of big things out of him. And he was a, I mean he wasn't even really starting last year. He was more of a rotate, a constant rotational receiver. So they like him spearheading the receiver room. But they also really like the transfers they got from syracuse. Daryl Gill Jr. And John Tay Cook. John Tae Cook's supposed to replace Kaden Lee out of the slot, we believe, and another young Horatio Fields too from Auburn. I'd be mistaken to leave him off as well. They really like his size. But Caleb Cunningham, I think a younger guy, five star talent, they flipped from Alabama at the end of 2024. They really like what they've seen out of him this spring. I think it's a pivotal, pivotal off season already for his Ole Miss career. And I think they like what they've, what he's shown through spring so far. So now we'll see what happens this summer and then tight end too. I think that's a good point. Losing Daquan right, I think is going to Be a really underrated big loss for this team, obviously to the NFL undrafted free agent. But they really like what they had in Luke. Cause they rushed him back. You know, the Arkansas transfer, he had great freshman sophomore year up in Fayetteville, but not healthy last year and has had some serious injuries throughout his tenure. Already he's a senior. They would love to use him better than they did last year. I think he had three catches all year. And then Caleb Odom too, I think. Adds an interesting dynamic in there. More, more of a pass catcher than blocker,
Bud Elliott
offensive line wise. I mean, they. You lose both tackles. One went seventh round NFL, the other one gets picked up by Baltimore as an undrafted free agent. I really like what they have returning on the inside. Like, I mean that. That seems like one of the better interior groups in the league. Their pass pro stats last year. And part of this certainly is Chambers in the fact that he is really good at avoiding pressure. But man, they were like less than half of the league. Like the league average pressure rate allowed, which is, you know, stunningly good. How's this tackle situation like shake out?
Tyler Comus
Great question. I think it's the biggest question this roster has right now. They signed carious Kern from LSU. I think the number two, 247 sports offensive tackle. He's the word we got because we really didn't get too much practice access this spring. But the word we got was that he was underwhelming and then obviously last week got into some legal issues. So just kind of setback after setback with him. You know, a guy they had really big expectations with, you know, starter for LSU last year at tackle. Nice surprise though for Ole Miss. At left tackle has been Terez Davis. Played a lot as a true freshman at Maryland in 2024. Was kind of hurt. Rode the bench a little bit this past season, but it's been a standout this spring. And they also added Tommy Kinsler and a knock Wang ho, both guys from Florida school. Transferred from Florida schools. They really like the size. I think they're both at least six, six three five zero. Really massive guys, but really raw pieces along the offensive line. So they're still figuring things out. I think they're far from figuring out their two starting tackle spots. Looks like Davis is kind of the leader for left tackle. Kern should emerge at right tackle, but they certainly have a lot of options.
Bud Elliott
I like the Kinsler pickup. Like, I know some guys at Miami like they, they liked him, obviously. Like their, their offensive line is kind of a different level, you know, typically, but like yeah, he's not one of these guys who just, you know, couldn't cut it. Like, I think he's a starter at a lot of other schools nationally. Is there a guy on this offense that maybe we haven't talked about or haven't talked about a whole lot, that if he reaches his ceiling a year before you expect or before they internally expect, just light comes on over the summer, maybe early in the season, all of a sudden he's like. Like a star that wasn't expected to be like. It really kind of changes your outlook on the offense.
Tyler Comus
If I had to pick one, I'd probably say Luke has because John David Baker and his offense and I mean, honestly, the Ole Miss offenses these past couple years, if it's going to look anything like it has, the tight end's been a huge part of the offense. So I think he's a dude that can emerge as maybe a star. Especially underrated. I think a lot of Ole Miss fans have kind of already forgotten about him. So I would guess even SEC fans around the country, maybe not Arkansas, but a lot of other people have already kind of forgotten about him. So I think he's a guy that falls under the radar, that can maybe truly unlock this offense, man, just like,
Bud Elliott
you know, I think you've done a great job breaking this down. Like, personally listening to this. God, it's good to get shambles back because, like, the receiving core, like, maybe a step down, we'll see, but like, just the ability for him to ID the open guy who they've hopefully schemed open and get it to him and, you know, maybe not have like the. The superstar to lean on there. Aside from. From Kwan, obviously, is huge. All right, we'll take a break here. And on the flip side, little defense, little schedule, a little outlook and expectations. For the Ole Miss Rebs in 26,
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Bud Elliott
alright guys, welcome back in summer school. On the CoverGirl college football podcast Rebels247 is Tyler Comas. We are breaking down the defense after he did such a great job breaking down the offense for us. And his defense was, you know, pretty damn good last year. Like not, not maybe like nationally elite, but like, you know, really they did some really nice things I thought. Like the defensive line, man, they showed up in a big way to cover for a secondary that was, you know, kind of up and down at, at times. Obviously had some injuries late in the year defensively. I, I'm not expecting much change from a schematic standpoint, are you?
Tyler Comus
I'm not. Pete Golding's still going to call the defense. Actually. They have two co defensive coordinators. They actually had to replace one. It's been a crazy off season for Ole Miss, really not much of one because they hired Patrick Toney, NFL from Arizona to come be their co defensive coordinator. Just about 20 days later he goes to the Atlanta Falcons to take an assistant job there. But it ultimately didn't change much and we don't expect much to change. With golden calling the defense Run D
Bud Elliott
last year was, was tremendous. I mean that 92 PFF grade run D is top 10 nationally. They played a a challenging schedule to get that pass rush was, you know, sometimes there, sometimes not. Sometimes they manufacture it. You get Sun Train Perkins back, Cam Franklin's there. They brought in a bunch of transfers. Like how does this defensive line group shake out?
Tyler Comus
Honestly, I think it shakes out a lot better than last year. I think if you ask these guys, I think they would tell you they were pretty Subpar defending the run, despite what that grade says. Secondary was a weakness a little bit for these guys, but I do think they kind of replaced what they needed to Xavian Harris, a really big body. They go out and grab Makai Boreo. I think a transfer they're really, really excited about from Florida, a third year, Will Eccles, and then kind of some depth behind him. Blake Purchase. Jordan Renaud. Jordan Renaud, the transfer from Alabama, actually missed all spring camp with an injury. Not sure what specifically, but wasn't a participant. They really like Blake Purchase off the edge. I think he's gonna make a big impact, immediate impact for this defense. And then obviously they return Cam Franklin as well as Perkins on that defensive line.
Bud Elliott
Interesting. I. I saw they brought in Jih Motis as well.
Tyler Comus
Yes.
Bud Elliott
I mean, like, I. I'm always kind of like, man, this guy going to be something. Because I remember, you know, being down there at IMG Academy for Future 50, and he's like destroying Will Campbell, you know, who went third overall to the Patriots. And I. I assume that's why you still take a bet on that guy because maybe that's still in there somewhere. Have you guys heard anything on him?
Tyler Comus
Yeah, we've heard a ton from him. He's been asked about here and there and Golding's been, I mean, pretty straight up about his situation. Just really hasn't produced to the potential he had, like you said, against Will Campbell, very minimal, at least in the stat. Impact. And now this year, I think Golding has kind of explicitly said, quote for quote, it's kind of a make or break year for him. It's time for him to make the right decisions. Golding's also noted that he's had kind of success with these second chance guys. So he'll be a depth piece. Certainly has the S. I'm not sure if I'm really expecting an immediate impact, maybe later down the line if, you know, he's sticking, staying intact with his work ethic and pleasing Golding and Randall Joyner, the defensive line coach. But I think it is obviously now or never for a guy in his last year, a Mississippi recruit that they really wanted out of high school and now they have in his final year. So we'll see how much of a contributor he is, but he certainly won't be a starter. Gotcha.
Bud Elliott
Okay. Linebacker wise, they. They did lose a decent bit. Do they feel okay with what they brought in here or might be internal?
Tyler Comus
Guys, internally, they love it. They feel like they upgraded. It was. I mean, yeah, Farrelli hasn't been a man of words this spring. They haven't unfortunately given us that interview. But his departure from Clemson was quite loud. He's going to be a big part of this Ole Miss defense. They didn't do, you know, they didn't go through all those hula hoops to not get him and not have him be a big part. So he will be. He'll be the green dot linebacker replacing TJ Daughtery. Quick note on that too, actually. Pete Golding. It was one of the first questions he was asked this spring how he responded to Sweeney's kind of call at public call out. And he said Farrelli visited Ole Miss before the Fiesta bowl and goaling told him that he would be the green dot guy if that spot ever came open. And that kind of tell and for all he said, yeah, he wanted to be here if that was the case. I didn't think too much of that in the moment, but I think that kind of tells me right then and there that they were prepping for something happening with TJ Daughtery potentially exiting. So they had a good fallback plan. And I think they're really excited about the former ACC rookie defensive player of the year, whatever the honor was.
Bud Elliott
Yeah, yeah. No, for Ferelli can play, man.
Tyler Comus
For sure.
Bud Elliott
In the secondary, they lose five. Like I guess I'd label contributors, right. Like is it both starting safeties and then is it three corners? I think I was trying to look like who actually started here.
Tyler Comus
Yeah, they lost all four of their safeties that played. That played most the majority of the snaps. Last season they returned two cornerbacks, really big deal, I think in Antonio Kite and Jalen Braxton. And then they bring Jalen Crawford into the room as well from Auburn, three new safeties. They like Ladarian Clardy. He's actually one of the few returnees sophomore as well as Janola Guero and Edwin Joseph. Nicole too. Kind of a sneaky guy that's been here. I think he's in his fourth year at Ole Miss. He's been a solid rotational piece in the back end for Ole Miss. But they're really excited about Aguero the. The transfer safety from Georgia as well as Edwin Joseph, the real playmaker who. Who they hope is their wide at Williams from last year. He was their only playmaker in the secondary. Joseph, I saw put up similar production in the secondary as a playmaker for the Seminoles. So they're really excited about that group as well. And I said run defense was a struggle. Secondary was a struggle for this defense last year. I think they really feel like they've upgraded at both those units.
Bud Elliott
Looking at this, I mean if, if Eccles makes the jump that this like, I mean I, I personally like watching him. Like, I think that gets a ton of potential if he makes the jump that this defense could be like pretty formidable.
Tyler Comus
No doubt. I, I think he's, you could argue he's the best defender on the team. I think he's, he could make some have potential to be a first round pick too. Really athletic, really great at block shedding, all those great things. Run stopper really can do it all. And I think he's, he's a little bit more on notice this season obviously as a junior than last year as a sophomore. But I think they really wanted to put some building, building blocks around him and I think they did with Cam Franklin, Makai, Boreo, Perkins off the edge as well. Purchase and then Renaud from Alabama as well. So I think they're really excited for this potential of this defensive line and Will Echols and Cam Franklin are like that off the field, on the field. So it's kind of cool to kind of see that duo make such an, a big impact early in their careers. They're both juniors.
Bud Elliott
Turning to the schedule here, this is not really easy just you know, reading it off quickly for, for our audio audience. Louisville on a neutral site in Nashville. I assume Ole Miss will travel really well to that one. Louisville probably will as well. Charlotte comes to town, lsu then you got to go to the Swamp and then get an open date, then at Vandy, which is, you know, a road game but like certainly one that Ole Miss expects to win. Missouri at home, then at Texas, host Auburn, host Georgia at Oklahoma before a breather against Wofford and then the Egg bowl against Mississippi State, which again is in Oxford. I do like that they get a lot of the teams that have significant new factors early in the season. Given that you have, I mean there's some newness here with this team as well. Basically every team in college football. But you know, LSU coaching change, Florida coaching change, you know, Vanderbilt almost certainly starting a true freshman quarterback. And Curtis, I think I'd rather get those teams early than late, you know, but it's still not an easy schedule. Certainly like this looks more challenging, I think than what they had last year in some ways. And you look at kind of the, the teams that are not favored to, to win the sec. You know, like you don't get Arkansas, you get Mississippi, State, you don't get Kentucky, you get, you Get Vandy, you don't get South Carolina, I guess you do get Auburn, right? And Missouri, you know, so like there, there are tougher SEC schedules out there, but they also play, I mean you play the top two as far as the odds. And you also draw, you know, you draw LSU and Oklahoma, which is a playoff team last year. What's kind of the expectation for this team this year? Like, and do you think that like are they in the conversation if they go 9 and 3? I guess because they actually do have the real non conference game this year.
Tyler Comus
I think there's again just so much there, the nine and three. It's kind of interesting because you know, you thought after the first year of the CFP that 10 wins was the magic number and you know, last year that didn't end up being the case. But I guess as far as internal expectations, this is a team that certainly expects to make the college football playoffs, I think, I mean playoffs are bust. You're going to hear that a lot more in this era. I don't know if they necessarily, I mean they view it that way. I know nationally that maybe not be the case for Pete Golding in his first full year as head coach. Vegas has the win total set at seven and a half, which is a little bit telling right now. Looking at the schedule, I'm very comfortable going the over on that. Not too much over it, I'll say that. And I think you make great points about getting the LSU game early, Florida at Gainesville and then Nashville, because I mean the hardest stretch I see right here in their schedule, Texas, Auburn, Georgia, Oklahoma, you get half of those at home. But that's really a gauntlet. I'm interested to see what they go in that stretch because I think that's really going to determine where this team goes. So yeah, I. And also they don't expect us to get in either. I think they expect to make a late run with all the core pieces we talked about coming back on offense, defense and then bringing in, mixing that with the number two portal class. So they really think this, they want this to be a team of destiny. At the end of the day, not sure it will be. And personally I'm not sure even if making or missing the college football playoffs is going to be the proper measuring stick for Golding's first year as first time full head coach. It's really going to be the year after when he's got to construct it from scratch almost in my opinion. So yeah, internally these guys expect to kind of have a similar year to last year. At the end of the day, the schedule is way tougher. The win total is. Is one win lower with probably arguably a better talented team. But just because they're better team and roster and talent doesn't mean they'll fit better than they did last year.
Bud Elliott
Like, just, you know, quick back of the napkin math on this. If they're seven and a half, like minus 170 to the over and they're plus 170 to make the playoff, I. I think they're pretty firmly in that, like, kind of limited group that would. Would be able to, you know, be in the conversation at 9 and 3. You know, if they can do which, you know, given a harder schedule, I think that should probably be rewarding. You know, assuming these teams play out like we think they will. But again, with all the portal stuff every year, you know, who knows, right?
Tyler Comus
That's right.
Bud Elliott
Awesome. Tyler, I really enjoyed this, man. We'll have to connect again, you know, soon and definitely have you on again summer school next year.
Tyler Comus
I would love that, man. That'd be awesome. And by the way, real quick, don't forget to Ole Miss returned that Lucas Carnero kicker. The kicker they feel like is the best in the country that LSU was after a little bit. And he told us this week Ole Miss made it really clear how much they valued him for his last year. So a special teams element, too, to this team. They really like where they're at, for sure.
Bud Elliott
Oh, by the way, if you guys want to check out rebels 247, we actually have a promo code summer 26 running now it's summer 26. You get 60 off an annual subscription for new subscribers. So, yeah, definitely do that for sure. And glad that we. We just got that from 24 7. So excited, man. Well, I appreciate the time today.
Tyler Comus
Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for having me on, bud. Love the show.
Bud Elliott
Appreciate it.
This episode of the Cover 3 College Football Podcast dives deep into the Ole Miss Rebels' prospects for the 2026 season. Host Bud Elliott is joined by first-time guest Tyler Comus, who covers the Rebels for Rebel Grove, to break down the fallout from Ole Miss's program-defining 2025 run, the new era under head coach Pete Golding, personnel transitions, and expectations for the season ahead. The episode thoroughly examines both sides of the ball, key roster changes, depth concerns, and how the schedule could impact playoff hopes, all while providing tested insider perspectives and candid quotes from the beat.
[03:05 - 04:14]
[05:23 - 15:12]
[17:13 - 24:22]
[24:22 - 28:05]
[28:37]
"That Sugar Bowl win against Georgia ... it was almost out of a Hollywood movie script."
– Tyler Comus, [03:15]
"Not having to decipher tweets [from Lane Kiffin]. That's different."
– Tyler Comus, [04:14]
"Schematically, no, not much. Joe Judge is still there as well ... really changed."
– Tyler Comus, [05:50]
"If you watched any college football last year, Lacy's a stud."
– Bud Elliott, [08:56]
"They're banking on Alexander being that number one. He got that number one jersey ... so they expect a lot of big things out of him."
– Tyler Comus, [10:41]
"I think they're far from figuring out their two starting tackle spots."
– Tyler Comus, [12:52]
"If I had to pick one, I'd probably say Luke Hasz ... can maybe truly unlock this offense ..."
– Tyler Comus, [14:40]
"They feel like they upgraded [at linebacker]."
– Tyler Comus, [20:50]
"They lost all four of their safeties that played most of the majority of the snaps last season ..."
– Tyler Comus, [22:12]
"Internally these guys expect to kind of have a similar year to last year. At the end of the day, the schedule is way tougher. The win total is one win lower with probably arguably a better talented team."
– Tyler Comus, [27:15]
"Real quick, don't forget, too: Ole Miss returned that Lucas Carnero kicker ... they feel like is the best in the country."
– Tyler Comus, [28:37]
The 2026 Ole Miss Rebels enter a new chapter defined by heightened expectations and significant transitions. With Louisiana Kiffin gone and Pete Golding forging his own path—emphasizing player retention, scheme stability, and a blend of high-upside transfers—the program faces its toughest schedule yet. The offense’s success hinges on star QB Trinidad Chambliss's year-two leap, relief for RB Kwon Lacy, new faces at receiver and tackle, and the hope of a breakout from tight end Luke Hasz. Defensively, the focus is on an upgraded front, a new leader at linebacker, and a retooled secondary. Internally, the mood is playoff-or-bust, but even an improved roster faces a brutal stretch and the unpredictability of college football. Special teams gets a confidence boost with the return of highly-touted kicker Lucas Carnero. For Rebels fans, it’s a season of both renewal and raised stakes.
Listen to the full episode for more in-depth analysis, and follow Tyler Comus's reporting at Rebel Grove/247Sports for further updates.