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- [00:00]
Host
The 2026 season just around the corner for the Ole Miss Rebels and it's a new era as Pete Golding, after what he did in the playoff a season ago, beating Tulane in the first round, taking down Georgia in the Sugar bowl and being one win away from the national championship. The Rebs are back looking for more in 2026. We are here previewing the upcoming season for hottie Toddy Cole. Before we do that, let's take a look back really briefly as I just was doing here, of how we got to this point. Set the scene for the upcoming season. Cole it was the greatest individual season in Ole Miss football history from a regular season standpoint, if nothing else. They went 13 and 2 overall, 7 and 1 in conference play, like I mentioned, made that run all the way to the semifinal against Miami where they were essentially a player two away from beating the Canes and getting to the national title. All of the successes that occurred a season ago though, Cole let's call it for what it is. They were overshadowed, especially the last month or the last couple months of the season with the whole Lane Kiffin saga. He leaves for lsu, but it does not take away from what Ole Miss did. The emergence of Trinidad Chambliss, Kawan Lacey set records at the running back position. You had a ferocious defense, you had signature win after signature win. Oh, by the way, Pete Golding, it was he who beat the Georgia Bulldogs in that Sugar bowl game. So, so much to be proud of, so much to hang your hat on Cole. But all of the off field stuff, all of the changes and then the way that you finished, the way you finished builds hype and expectations. Pete Golding now taking over adds in the layer as well. Historical season a season ago and again it only builds the expectations for what feels like maybe a new normal for old Miss.
- [01:46]
Cole
Booth Ford yeah, it's who you ask will tell you what they thought about Ole Miss's season. If you ask the national perspective, so many people will be fixated on the Lane Kiffin approach of everything. But in Oxford, there's no other way to put it. You found ways to win games and put yourself in the College Football Playoff with all the distractions. You went 50 in one score games last year and you found ways to fight back. When you dealt with the injury to Austin Simmons early on and Trinidad, we didn't know who he was to get the win over win over Kentucky, you were able to go ahead and punch your ticket basically into the realm of conversational for national title. National title odds because of Beating lsu, you handle business against Florida when you had Florida fans all flocking into Oxford, basically saying, Lane, come be our head coach. And shown why. Lane, you probably want to stick around here long term. Like, you answered the bell at every single turn. You had a good defense, you had a great offense, you had a lot of pieces that were certainly unknown that kind of hit the ground and exploded and turned thing into an, into a year of, of consistency to where I would say, absolutely, if you are a Rebels fan, you have got to be excited about where the future resides. But at the same time, you got to also ask yourself, what did the public Persona think of me? Because the public Persona, they'll all look at Ole Miss and they'll say, well, hell of a job what they did last year. It's great story, but Lane did pick lsu. Lane picked lsu. He did. And you can talk about all you want about, oh yeah, Trina champions with the great win over Georgia. Oh, I mean, well, those were Lane's players and, and you saw a Charlie Wise there. So regardless of, no matter how you feel internally, like I can tell you right now, if I'm an Ole Miss fan and I am waking up and it's fall camp day one, I believe that we are still as good, if not a better team going into next season because of we are good enough with who we returned. But I know for the public perception there will be people out there that will say, get rid of Lane, get rid of Charlie and keep Trinidad. I still don't believe in this team. I think that's where you are right now, depending on how you view the
- [03:56]
Host
season in general and because of what took place end of season. Cole Pete Golding takes, takes over his. I'm calling this his first season, by the way. I know he coached the playoff, obviously, but this his first full season as Rebels head coach. Has been on staff for quite a while as a defensive coordinator, but now he's running. It's his show.
- [04:14]
Cole
Cole.
- [04:15]
Host
I, I, there's there's some mixed feelings on Pete Golding from the standpoint of was he the best possible hire that Ole Miss could have made? I said this during the playoff run, certainly I think for the short term was the best possible hire they could have made from a standpoint of galvanizing that football team, bringing them together and, and you saw it play out in the playoff. Is he the best hire long term? Tbd I just don't think we know. We don't know. We don't know. And you think about the way that it came together. Cole, obviously there was a scramble at seasons in right after the Mississippi State game, we're hearing the rumors. Whatever. Lane chooses LSU because of how long the process took and because Ole Miss was waiting on Lane Kiffin to make a decision. Cole, you might remember there's some out there that believe that maybe had Ole Miss known weeks in advance, maybe they go after a John Sumrall instead, maybe they go elsewhere. But by the time it all happened, it made the most sense and I totally understand why. And I'm not saying it wasn't the right choice. Pete Golding is your head coach. Your thoughts on Pete Golding as a head coach because we talk about first time head coaches in this league and Pete Golding's sort of in a different category, right? He's in his own really unique category because it is a unique position. But this is also a guy. You're a Bama God. We follow the sec. You know of Pete Golding, you're familiar with Pete Golding. And again, there are definitely, I think if you polled a number of people, there's definitely mixed opinions on how his tenure for the long run at least is going to go down there in Oxford.
- [05:45]
Cole
Yeah, you certainly will have an opportunity to shut up the doubters by going into this season and keeping the same standard if you're Pete Golding. The reason why it's so hard to get a gauge on who Pete Golding is or where to properly rank him among head coaches first time head coaches is he has something that no one else has. I beat Kirby Smart in my first ever SEC head to head game in the playoff and I got to move on. So it's like on one hand, that small sample size, while small, does give me confidence that even with Trinidad Champs, who again was the main reason why you won that game, you gave up, you gave up a lot of points. Pete's defense, I'll call it as is true that champions making play after play after play was the reason you won that game and he's back for you. It just if you don't know how to get a gauge on who he is as a head coach, what you will say is if you show up this year and you end up having another 10 win campaign and you're in the playoff, good, bad and different. If there are still some bonehead decisions that are made, you will be able to sleep while saying we made the right hire because of a lot of the pieces that were here on staff. A lot of pieces that were here with our roster may not be here with John Summerall and for where you were as an organization at the time with Keith Carter, knowing that he had to make this move happen pretty instantaneously, you probably need to keep Pete Golding on staff. That's. That's just where you were. Because of anyone else who comes on in, you may not have a key on Lacey back. You may not have a Trinidad Chambliss, you may not have a William Eccles. They may all enter the portal or go follow Lane. And it hurts you long term. But there's two trains of thoughts here. You can either come on in this season, prove that you were a key asset on why Ole Miss was good enough to be considered not only a returning threat in the sec, but good enough to be beat Georgia last year, or on the other hand, you now leave the question of the only reason why you got the job is because of we couldn't afford to lose a trade ad we couldn't afford to lose a TJ Daughtery who we ended up still losing. We could end up afford up losing to losing a Kiwan Lacey. We couldn't afford to lose some members of the offensive line. Knowing that you were coming back in was the only way that we were good enough to be able to have this team stay together.
- [07:50]
Host
So Cole, with that being said, let's take a Look at this 2026 Ole Miss rebels team led by Pete Gold and one of the most notable acquisitions of the off season. Cole is an offensive coordinator like you mentioned. Charlie Weiss Jr follows Lane Kiffin, LSU. John David Baker takes over at OC and this is a guy that essentially came up under Lane Kiffin, so it feels like a good fit, but a lot of pressure on him to optimize the offense and get the most out of the offense. Similar to what they did a season ago, of course. Cole, Trinidad chambliss back at QB1. I would say this was the biggest win as far as roster retention for any team in the sec. You might recall they had to take it to court and essentially sue and say Trinidad deserves into the year and sure enough he got it. By the way, Cole, I was reminded my research, he finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Yeah, which is crazy. But you think about, I guess he didn't play the entire year, but still just wild to think that season he had and somehow was finished 8. Either way though, huge to have Trinidad Chambers back, huge to Kawan Lacy back at running back set all kinds of records for Ole Miss a season ago. You could argue Cole and I think it's a fair argument. It is the best quarterback running back duo in all of college football. Now you have to replace over 3,000 yards of receiving production. You do get Deuce Alexander and Caleb Cunningham back. You did pick up Daryl Gill Jr. From Syracuse, Jonte Cook from Syracuse as well, the former Texas Longhorn as well and Horatio Fields from Auburn. Luke Haas and Caleb Odom are back at tight end and he got three starters back on the O line, Cole and Delano Townsend, Bryce Sanders and Patrick Kutas. You got to replace both tackles. That'll be a big storyline in the fall. But you did pick up Carious Kern from lsu, Tommy Kinzel iv Miami, you got Therese Davis working out at the tackle spot as well. So Cole, when you take a look at this Ole Miss offense, your overall thoughts? I think the big question here is what does this look like? Can it be the same diabolical offense it was without Lane Kiffin and maybe even more Importantly Charlie Weiss Jr. Who orchestrated this thing? You know, even throughout the playoff run last year, can John David Baker be the guy at oc and then of course where your optimism lies. Trinidad Chambliss, Kawan, Lacy, Cole, the Heisman campaign has already started in Oxford. Your expectations for the Ole Miss offense and biggest question marks for this group
- [10:19]
Cole
not miss a beat because of we've seen in years past. And again I want to preface this, we gotta talk about the lane keeping element of it, but we've seen in years past Lane go into the portal, replace all of his wide receivers, replace his running back room and be able to keep them keep the bandwidth going. So I don't expect much change in that standpoint. I do believe that John David Baker, while he will not be Charlie Weiss Jr. Or Lane Kiffin, is going to run a very similar approach this season because of who is that quarterback and who is that running back and what worked last year in the same personnel group. So if I still have Trinidad Chambliss and Kiwan Lacey in my backfield should just be basically like re learning how to ride a bike. About a week from now they'll be in good hands. I think Deuce Alexander is being one of the most slept on wide receivers in the country. I think that we remember last season how big of a role Harrison Wallace had and there were a couple of big time plays with Winston Watkins, John Stribling, but if you go back and you watch the two lane game and a few other matchups he was winning a lot of one on one battles that just that speed was untamable. You you you couldn't just hold it in place. He would win with finesse and route running. And then I do like the additions of Darren Gill and John Tay Cook coming on in from Syracuse. They have a good understanding about what it takes to play in this style of up tempo offense, but a more pro style approach. The tackle spot's really the big question mark on the offensive line, but your interior being all consistent once again I think is going to do wonder Cham and Lacy in the backfield. I think that you are going to have consistent play at the tight end spot. Daquan Wright's departure is a massive loss, but this is where you bring in Luke Haas and hopefully he can take that next jump forward. And he got some young guys that aren't being talked about enough. Like remember they did not lose 5 star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham to the transfer portal. He stuck around with Ole Miss. So what does he do this year? Odom's a guy that was a wide receiver that has kind of the build of a Kyle Pitts. Do you think that he could be that difference maker in the slot? Like there are going to be opportunities for this offense to still be explosive, they're still going to trust the run game. They should be very consistent inside the red zone. The questions that I have actually, and it's a surprise because of it's a brand new coaching staff on that side. The questions that I have actually have nothing to do with the offense. It's. It's more so on the defensive side. I got a quarterback and I got a running back that absolutely can win the dope Walker, the Davey o' Brien and the Heisman Trophy. I sleep well at night in Oxford knowing that those two guys are back laying the charge?
- [12:43]
Host
Cola, I'll pose this to you. Is there a reality, a potential hypothetical reality where the glass slipper does not fit for Trinidad Chambliss and he does take a step back without Charlie Weiss Jr. Is there a potential to where those guys, Weiss Jr. And Lane Kiffin put them in such a such favorable positions to be successful that it helped make Trinidad Chambliss appear or look as the player that he was? And I even follow up and add more context to this like it was a magical season. Like some of the things Trinidad Chambers did against Georgia last year, you remember. I mean they were, they were Johnny Manziel esque. Is, is there, is there an alternate reality in your mind to where potentially we watch and say Trinidad Chambers is still very, very good, but last year was just a magical run and he came back down to earth a little bit. Is that even a possibility?
- [13:48]
Cole
Yeah, of course it is. You'd be foolish to say it isn't because of the bottom line is that we haven't seen trade at Chambliss play at Ole Miss without Charlie Wise Jr. On the sidelines or in the broadcast booth. We haven't had that or the coaching, my apologies, we have not had that yet. So no matter how you want to phrase it, that that's where we are. Like we have to see it actually unfold and make that transitional jump. So I say right now, when we look at trade out, I have more faith that he is going to end up taking a massive jump forward than a jump back. But it is possible. It's also possible that there were things that they were doing last season with Charlie Wise Jr. And Lane Kiffin and maybe held back Trinidad Shambas a little bit. You'd be foolish, though, to say that it's not a possibility.
- [14:41]
Host
That being said, I don't know that I necessarily think it happens. I just think it's an interesting talking point from the standpoint of if it looks different, what does different mean? Cole, like you mentioned, you got a lot of confidence on the defensive side. Let's talk about the Ole Miss defense. Will Echols, Cam Franklin return up front? You pick up Makai Borough from Florida, Jaheim Otis from Colorado and Jordan Renaud from Alabama and Jonathan Maldonado from Nevada to boost the front. So a lot of portal guys coming in that you were expecting to contribute. Center Reed Perkins back at linebacker, you had Luke Forelli from Cal. Who can forget him after all the craziness of the off season? Taj Butler from Georgia Tech and Keaton Thomas from Baylor. And in the secondary, Antonio Kite and Jalen Braxton returned. You also added Edwin Joseph from Florida State, Jalen Crawford from an Auburn and Sharif Denson from Florida. So Cole, I mean, listen, you would think under Pete Golding, I mean the bread and butter for him is the defensive side of the football. They got a lot of talent to work with, both a mix of returners and talented additions via the transfer portal.
- [15:45]
Cole
No, two of the biggest names that they didn't lose were William Echols and Suntarian Perkins. I mean, that standpoint alone, knowing how impactful they were in the run game and how impactful they were, especially in that matchup against Georgia in the, in the Sugar bowl, you got to feel good about them just being the anchors of your team. But we do have to bring up the question of can this defense be more improved this year for what you are losing because of while you did bring in a Luke Forelli from Clemson and there was a whole thing about that that we can talk about which again, story for another day. Is he going to be as good as a TJ Daughtery? What do you have coming off of the edge in a Jonathan Maldonado in a Blake Purchase that you will have to replace with a guy like a prince and manly? Ellen, your secondary had its faults at times last season. Do you feel better about where they are with the new pieces that are coming on in, whether that be Antonio Kite or whether that be Edwin Joseph or Jono Aguero or Jalen Crawford? Do you feel good about who are the assets that you're replacing in the Portal and how they gel together? I don't think it's a bad unit by any means, but I do ask myself if you were to pick one side of the ball that could see a little bit more time to gel together offensively or defensively, I'd pick defense. And it's weird to say that because if you have a defensive coach and to be completely fair, you could have said, hey, Charlie Weiss Jr. We're going to make you the head coach at Ole Miss. You could have easily done that. And you said, no, we're going to go with Pete Golding, which probably is the right call. But bygones and bygones. I have more questions on the defensive side, mainly for the names not named Perkins and Echols. Doesn't mean it's bad. Does not mean it won't work. But if that's the thing that holds back Ole Miss this year, that will be the one that's less shocking.
- [17:32]
Host
Well, I think it's important Cole too. I mean, it's a lot of new on the defense. Certainly. I think like you mentioned the Echols and, and Perkins, that foundation and certainly the guys they bring back at the secondary is a great place to start. But to me, looking at Pete Golding, if he's going to last long term at Ole Miss, the defense has to be a strength. You can't be bad at the thing that's supposed to be your calling guard. Like you're supposed to be a defensive guy.
- [17:57]
Cole
Yeah.
- [17:58]
Host
If the defense isn't good, what are we doing? You know, I mean, I, I just at some point, if the offense is bad, we'll get a new oc. If the defense is bad, we got to get a new you. Like, like you. You're the one that like. So I, I think there is. They don't have to be elite by any means. I'm not sitting here saying they got to be a top five defense in college football, but certainly we cannot see the defense be a liability and I don't think they will be this year. But I'm talking more so with the long term that if we're seeing trends of the defense not living up to and holding up their end of the bargain, I think that will be a really, really difficult sign as a fan of Ole Miss in regards to is this the guy for the long term? So yeah, a lot of new pieces. I mean I think like you said, there's a lot of talented pieces they added from the portal, but you're asking all those pieces to gel early. Certainly it will be a question mark, but again the the foundation of Eccles, Perkins and some of these guys Kite Braxton in the secondary. I think the defense should be up to par at minimum this season.
- [18:55]
Cole
Cole by the way, before the fact is that while Ole Miss didn't have the number one transfer portal class which is the norm underneath Lane Kiffin, it wasn't a bad, it wasn't a bad class. So like there will be people out there that will say, well, because of look at what has been the standard in Oxford of the type of players that he gets. Just because you didn't get all of them doesn't mean it wasn't great. Like you may not have a five course meal, but you have four really good appetizers that are filling and do the job. That might be Ole Mission P. Golding it's not a negative right now. It's just there certainly is a little bit more uncertainty when it comes to this course for for where we are going into the year.
- [19:32]
Host
Cole let's move into special teams. This is of note for Gold Miss because Lucas Carnero is back at kicker. You might remember he had the game winner in the Sugar bowl to take down Georgia. Oscar Bird is back at punter. Traylon Ray looks to be one of the main weapons in the return game. Certainly there's plenty of options when you have all of the athletes that Ole Miss has. Anything of note for you when it comes to the Ole Miss special teams? Again, I look at having a guy like Lucas Carnero. When you got a dependable kicker like that, you're going to be in close ball games in the sec. Certainly if you're going to make a college football playoff and you're going to make a deep run, Cole, there's probably going to be a game or two that's going to come down to making a big kick. And you got to feel really, really confident to have a guy like Carnero back who's already done it in a big time showdown before.
- [20:16]
Cole
Yeah, the two biggest names that you brought back were trade out Chambers and Kiwan Lacey. You can make a case that Lucas Carnero was number three. You could, because if he won you the Sugar Bowl. Now, don't get me wrong, you had the big play by John Stribling on the pass by trade. I had to get there. But he had to make the kicks like he kept them competitive in that game. And he was drilling deep shots. I mean, we're talking 49, 51, 52 yards back. And it's like knowing that we have a kicker that can get us into range at midfield and feel confident that if we just get this extra seven or eight yards, we'll get three points. You chip away at leads, you're able to sustain yourself to have the, to have the advantage. It's a massive win for Carnero to come on back in Traylon Way. Taking on over as one of the returners, I think is a big deal. He had a lot of speed when he was at West Virginia. It'll be interesting to see how he translates into a bigger role. I think special teams will be an asset for Ole Miss this year, largely due to who you have, his kicker. But we talk about this sometimes. It's a make or break thing. I, I think that when you look at a guy like a Traylon Way that comes on in or what you have with Canaro, what you have in the punting game, it can have an easy transition to help you feel confident about where you are.
- [21:27]
Host
Cole with that being said, our overall outlook in the Ole Miss Rebels, let's first start with our friends over at KI have to say they give Ole Miss a 82% chance to win seven or more games, 63% chance to win eight or more, 45% to win nine or more, 31% to win 10 or more, 9% to win 11 or more and 7% to win 12. So Cole right at about eight and a half is where it starts to
- [21:53]
Cole
break in regards to over.
- [21:54]
Host
Under goes from 63% to 45% between 8 plus wins and 9 plus wins. Cal. She gives our friends at Ole Miss a 45 chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff. So pretty good odds there. And as far as winning a national championship, Kalshee gives ole miss a 2% chance to win the whole thing. Ole Miss Cole they got 10 starters back, five on offense, five on defense. And that being said, let's take a look at the 2026 schedule because certainly is your schedule conducive to a big season? That is the big question for not just Ole Miss, but every team in this conference. Cole, you get the season going with one of the more intriguing non conference showdowns of not just week one but this entire season. It is Ole Miss and the Louisville Cardinals right here in Nashville, Tennessee in the Liberty Mutual Music City Kickoff. All this focus and attention, Cole is on this game in week three. Do not sleep on this game in week one. That's all I will say. We will get a test out of the gate, right out of the gate for Ole Miss when they take on Louisville of the ACC. Then week two, your home opener against the Charlotte 49ers. Then Cole, week number three. It's not just your SEC home opener, it's the LSU Tigers and Lane Kiffin coming back to your place in a game that Cole is going to be so much more than a football game for being totally honest. It is going to be an absolute zoo when those two teams play each other. Certainly probably the toughest ticket to get in all of college football for this season. Your SEC road opener is week number four at Florida. So that'll be a great test right out of the gate. You have a bye week, then you're at Vandy Mizzou, at home at Texas, Auburn, Georgia at Oklahoma, Wofford and then Mississippi State in the Egg bowl to close it out. Cole, your thoughts on this schedule, thoughts on this slate and how it sets up for Ole Miss this season?
- [23:53]
Cole
Yeah, you know what's interesting is you hear more people talk about Ole Miss as a playoff team or as an SEC contender than national championship contender. And the reason I find that so interesting is because of more often than not, if you are playing in the SEC title game, you should be viewed as a national title contender. And that doesn't feel like the case for Ole Miss this year. Their schedule has a lot of lulls and a lot of opportunities to where hey, if you have a bad break here, if things don't go your way in this spot, you may end up looking what should be an 111 campaign, 8 and 4. Like it does feel that way. And I want to preface this, it's very hard to go back to back seasons winning in a lot of one score affairs. They won a lot of one score affairs last season. I think that you should at least believe that this is a playoff team. I Think it would be hard press to not think that when you return. In my opinion, the best quarterback in college football and arguably a top three running back in college football, some would say the best running back in college football. And I will fault you on that one. If you were to say that those two were leading the charge and you're running a similar approach offensively, you should at least expect a playoff first because you did it last season and you did it when you didn't really know what was trade out champions until midway through the year. Nobody had a good inclination on that. And the way that your schedule pans on out with games against Texas, with games against Florida, who might be better than advertised, Oklahoma, what you got with the Louisville team that could be making a run to the ACC title, what you have again, when it comes to LSU coming to town, all of these things that we talk about, you should at least think that if a 9 and 3 team is going to get in, Ole Miss will get in that conversation. I think that they should be at worst 9 and 3. I think at best they will be 11 1. And maybe it's just blind faith in what I got and trade on Chambliss, but I do not see a scenario where knowing what they are returning, even though you have your questions, you should think anything less than 9 and 3 is impossible. I would say that that should be the bare minimum that you, you may slightly take a step back, but that step back is, yeah, we're still a playoff team, okay? We're not the seventh seed. We're the 11 seed. You can live in that world, Cole.
- [26:05]
Host
Everyone's attention again is on week number three. I, I look at that week one game. I'm telling you, brother, this is a game. And I think Ole Miss will be locked into the task at hand. I think it's more the media hype and the hoopla. They'll be the ones wanting to jump ahead. I mean, Cole, we've already seen people Previewing the Week 3 matchup a game in Week 3. People are already previewing and predicting it and what have you. But that game out of the gate against Louisville, Cole, I mean, you know college football, you know, the acc, Louisville's a formidable opponent. Like, this is a team that, you know, outside of Miami, they very well could make the ACC title game. Like, like this is a, you know, this is no slouch. This is not the school of the deaf and blind you're coming out against here in week number one. So I, I'm excited to watch that one I'm excited to see how Ole Miss comes out of the gate. Obviously, the LSU game in week three is huge. I will say this goal, I think is a massive team tone setter because I think if you lose that one, could there be some hangover effect going into the swamp? The schedule's not easy goal. It's not. I mean, depending on two, what if Auburn pops. What if Oklahoma pops? That stretch of, I mean, what, what is Mizzou? Mizzou at Texas, Auburn, Georgia at Oklahoma.
- [27:13]
Cole
I mean, that's.
- [27:15]
Host
No matter which way you slice it, that is a straight up murderer's row starting in mid October, running through the mid, mid November. I mean, it is. And I think it's probably the stretch that's going to define your season. Like you said, if you go nine and three, you know, at Texas will be tough, Georgia will be tough. You know, there's a lot of landmines on this schedule is all I'm saying. So I think getting the 10 and 2 or better will be a really, really impressive mark for them. Not saying it can't be done, of course, but there are a lot of landmines on the schedule and I think it gets going week number one against Louisville. So I, I, you know, I would put Ole Miss on upset alert in week number one. I'm not sitting here telling you I think they're going to lose. I just think it is a. Let make sure you're not looking ahead to week three. Do not do yourself that disservice because that is a big one. We have seen Louisville slay the Giants before Cole, and that's one that, yeah, I'm excited. We're going to get some answers to Pete Golding's. What Pete Golding's Ole Miss looks like right out of the gate.
- [28:12]
Cole
We are, and I'll go a step further to say, make sure you know how to handle success because the last thing that you want to do is show on up and be so prepared for that LSU game and beat Lane Kiffin and send him packing back to Baton Rouge and you're excited and this is now we're on top of the world. And then the emotional toll takes too much weight off of you. And then you go into Gainesville and it's brutal and you lose to a Florida team, a Florida team that is probably better than advertised. And then you continue to struggle and you lose to Vanderbilt. And then that game against Missouri is a little bit more challenging. And then the Auburn game is a little bit more challenging because you're looking Too far ahead of Georgia. Make sure that you're not complacent. Because, because you already said this, I, I, I actually see a scenario more likely where Ole Miss is doing a little bit too much to prepare for one team, where they find a way to slip on up against another. That could be against Auburn and then they beat Georgia. That could be trying to prepare for Texas. And because that they lose to Auburn or they lose to Missouri the week before, I could easily see that being the case. Like make sure that you're not complacent. I think this is at worse than 9 and 3 team though. I, I really do. I like the roster, I like where they are. I think that you have the best quarterback in college football. I think that you have the Heisman favorite. I think that you have an elite run game and I like the hire of John David Baker. I don't love it, but I, I, I like it. I think if you run basically an identical offense of what you did a season ago, no reason to think that 9 and 3 should not be possible. And honestly you should probably be, you should be thinking internally we should be able to go 11 1. You should internally be thinking that.
- [29:50]
Host
Cole. On that note, in closing here, the Heisman campaign is off and running for Trinidad Chambers and Kawan Lacey. Ole Miss football got a taste of really big time success, being a one game away from the national title, taking down Georgia in the Sugar bowl in the process. This is Ole Miss football Post Lane Kiffin. What does it look like and is it that same level of success that we saw a season ago? I, I think that is the big question. It makes Ole Miss Cole one of the most fascinating teams in this conference and one of them, I think, one of the most difficult to predict. And I think if you're, if you're picking Ole Miss like you mentioned, floor 9 and 3, 11 and 1 expectation, it is because you have that much faith and I'm certainly not saying it's wrong. I tend to agree with you. You have that much faith in Trinidad Chambliss and Kawan Lacey and their abilities and what they mean to this football team. That's by the way, not to take away from any of the other players on this roster because Ole Miss does have a lot of other guys. It's not just a two man show, but those are two of the best players in the country. Two of the most important players in the country. Again, Cole, this is one of, they are one of the fascinating teams in the SEC that this preseason I've heard People say they're overrated. I've heard people say they're underrated. The fact of the matter is this similar to the way we talk about lsu, and I hate to bring them up calling an Ole Miss conversation. I'm sorry, Ole Miss fans, but I only do it because Lane Kiffin's there. The similar way that we say, like, who knows? Ole Miss is a little bit, who knows? Because it is just so much new. It is so much different. That being said, we saw Pete Golding, what he did in the Sugar bowl and in that playoff run. So you talk about. We talk about Windows Cole in college football and how important capitalizing on your window is if you're going to do some big things and, you know, is winning a national title possible? Maybe. If you're gonna do that. I think if you're gonna do that, the time to strike is now, because, admittedly, I wonder what happened last year and what potentially could happen this year. Is that the new norm in Oxford, or is this a window of Ole Miss football to where they will, at some point resort back to what Ole Miss has always historically been, which is, you know, you got one division title that you actually didn't win in 2003 that you're hanging your hat on, that's hung up in your stadium. And I don't say that it's disrespect. Just look at the history, look at the numbers. Y' all know what it is. I think the time to strike is now. I. I do. With. With the. With the special pieces that you have on this roster. Again, all this new. What does it look. They're just. They're a fascinating group going into this season, and I hope to see old Miss repeat the success. I really do. They were one of the best stories in college football last year, certainly would be one of the best stories if they're able to do it and take down maybe their former coach in the process.
- [32:58]
Cole
What I will say is that I hope very similar to LSU in a lot of ways. When we talk about lsu, we really don't look at the roster and we really don't mention the new pieces. It all starts with Lane Kiffin. And I think if you want to get to LSU to be at a level of where it is now, they are the team to beat in the SEC link if it needs to be a part of the story, but he doesn't need to be the full factor of it. That's how I feel about Ole Miss when it comes to Trinidad Chambliss. By week Number eight I want to be talking about guys not named Trinidad Chambliss. I want to talk about who is that number one wide receiver or the better yet who is the number two wide receiver opposite Deuce Alexander. I want to hear about what William Echols is doing on that defensive line. I want to hear about how Antonio Kite has been playing elite level secondary play. I I want to hear about that because of the more that I look at a guy like Trinidad Chambers being the entire story of Ole Miss. You live and die based on how he plays. You want to prove that you're a national title contender. You want to prove that you are a team that is deserving of all of the amounts of respect for the long term. Let's not focus so much in on trade at Chambliss. Give me somebody else who I can be talking about. You do that, I see no reason why you're not 10 and 2 and you're not punching your ticket to the playoff and I honestly believe that they will be in that conversation. If you ask me today, my confidence level on Ole Miss making the College football playoff in 2026, I would say that it's about a 70% because of who you got at the quarterback. But give me that 30 other percent by just saying yeah, this guy, this guy, this guy, this guy and this guy. There are reasons why we're winning football games too.
- [34:34]
Host
Chamb Lacy 26 Colbert Thompson's balled in and I'm sure many of you tuned in as are as well going to be an a fun season down in Oxford. The peak golding arrow has officially begun at Ole Miss. Sa. It.