ESPN Highlights Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy as Key X-Factor for 2026 Season

Lacy, an All-SEC performer, will return to Oxford after helping lead the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy, who had a monster season in 2025 with 1,744 total yards and 24 touchdowns, will be a key X-factor for the Rebels in 2026 as they look to build on last year's College Football Playoff run. Lacy, a first-team All-SEC performer, had considered transferring to LSU but ultimately decided to return to Oxford, where he will team up again with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

Why it matters

Lacy's decision to return is a huge boost for the Ole Miss program, as he and Chambliss formed a dynamic duo that helped turn the Rebels into a national title contender last season. With Lacy back in the fold, Ole Miss will look to take the next step and compete for a championship in 2026.

The details

After Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin left for LSU, there was a tug-of-war battle between the Rebels and Tigers for Lacy's services. However, Lacy ultimately decided to remain at Ole Miss, where he will team up again with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to lead the Rebels' offense. Lacy had a monster 2025 season, rushing for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns, and also added 177 receiving yards.

  • Lacy announced his return to Ole Miss on January 5, 2026.
  • The Rebels reached the College Football Playoff semifinals in 2025.

The players

Kewan Lacy

A star running back who led Ole Miss in rushing in 2025 with 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Trinidad Chambliss

The Rebels' starting quarterback, who teamed up with Lacy to form a dynamic offensive duo in 2025.

Pete Golding

The new head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, who took over the program in November 2025 after Lane Kiffin left for LSU.

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What they’re saying

“You see what Kewan is made of, what this team is made of. It's the reason so many guys are going to be back next year. We're going to build on this.”

— Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss kicker (On3 Sports)

“The locker room is so fragile, as we all know. This is the ultimate team sport, and there's no bigger team sport than football [with] so many personalities, so many moving parts. You had to hire the guy that can keep the locker room and the coaching staff in sync. It was such a unique situation, first of its kind. There's no blueprint for it.”

— Walker Jones, Executive director of the Grove Collective (ESPN)

What’s next

The Rebels will look to build on their College Football Playoff semifinal appearance in 2025 and compete for a national championship in 2026 with Lacy and Chambliss leading the way.

The takeaway

Kewan Lacy's decision to return to Ole Miss is a huge boost for the Rebels as they look to take the next step and compete for a national title in 2026. Lacy and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss formed a dynamic duo in 2025, and with both players back, Ole Miss has the pieces in place to be a legitimate contender.