Kewan Lacy is staying put. The Ole Miss star running back signed a deal to return to Oxford for 2026, sources confirmed Monday, giving Pete Golding and the Grove Collective a critical transfer portal win ahead of Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl showdown with Miami.
Lacy has rushed for 1,464 yards and 23 touchdowns this fall, and those numbers tell you everything you need to know about what the Rebels avoided losing.
Kewan Lacy’s Return Anchors Ole Miss Backfield for 2026
Lacy, the first Doak Walker Award finalist in Ole Miss history and a consensus All-American, was widely rumored as a potential LSU target following Lane Kiffin’s departure to Baton Rouge.
Instead, he’s running it back with the program that turned him from a Missouri transfer into an SEC star. Carrying on, perhaps even improving Lane Kiffin’s legacy in Oxford, Pete Golding has made Ole Miss a destination, not a layover, for the top talent in the SEC. The Rebels are here to stay.
Lacy’s decision eliminates a massive question mark for Golding’s first full offseason as head coach. Ole Miss doesn’t have to replace nearly 300 carries and 23 touchdowns; they simply bring them back.
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His 2025 campaign was historic. Lacy shattered Quinshon Judkins’ single-season rushing touchdown record of 16, set in 2022, and became only the 12th running back in SEC history to cross the goal line 20 times on the ground in a single season.
Lacy’s 120 points broke the Ole Miss single-season record for a non-kicker, and he ended the season with a 90.1 PFSN College RB Impact score, the seventh-best in the country. He’s a home-run threat who rarely has negative runs, a rare combination that makes him nearly impossible to replace.
Fortunately for Ole Miss fans, they don’t have to.
His Sugar Bowl performance against Georgia demonstrated why Golding prioritized retention. Lacy carried 22 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the 39-34 quarterfinal victory, helping the Rebels advance to within one win of the national championship game.
Pete Golding Building Roster for 2026 Amid CFP Run
Lacy’s return headlines a strong 48 hours for Golding in the portal. The Rebels also secured commitments from Florida defensive back Sharif Denson, Nevada defensive end Jonathan Maldonado, former Auburn cornerback Jay Crawford, Baylor linebacker Keaton Thomas, Florida defensive lineman Michai Boireau, and Colorado defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis.
Southern Miss linebacker Chris Jones committed Monday as well.
On the retention front, several key starters announced they’re staying: center Brycen Sanders, defensive lineman Will Echoles, edge rusher Suntarine Perkins, kicker Lucas Carneiro, and defensive backs Antonio Kite, Jaylon Braxton, and LD Clardy.
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Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss also announced Monday his intention to return for 2026, pending approval of an NCAA waiver for an additional year of eligibility. If granted, Golding would retain both his starting quarterback and featured back heading into his first full season.
Now, Golding and the Rebels can shift full attention to Miami. Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Glendale, Arizona, with the winner advancing to face the Indiana-Oregon victor for the national championship on Jan. 19.
