Ole Miss Alleges Tampering by Other Schools Amid NCAA Investigation

Rebels claim they have evidence of tampering by rival programs as NCAA probe continues

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:13am

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The NCAA is currently investigating Ole Miss for alleged tampering with players, but Ole Miss officials reportedly have evidence that multiple coaches from other programs have also tampered with their players. These counter-allegations could trigger a wave of cases across college football as coaching staffs implicate rival programs. Proposed penalties include game suspensions for coaches.

Why it matters

The ongoing tampering investigations highlight the growing issue of illegal recruiting practices in college football, as programs seek to gain an edge by poaching players from rivals. The outcome could set precedents for how the NCAA handles such cases going forward and the penalties imposed on offending coaches and programs.

The details

According to reports, the NCAA has an open tampering investigation involving Ole Miss. However, Ole Miss officials reportedly have evidence that coaches from other programs, including Clemson and LSU, have also tampered with their players. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has publicly accused Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding of tampering with a Clemson transfer, while Ole Miss is alleging that Lane Kiffin and LSU have also engaged in tampering.

  • In January, Clemson filed a complaint with the NCAA over linebacker Luke Ferrelli, a transfer from Cal, who committed to Clemson and signed grant-in-aid papers before leaving.
  • Two days after signing with Clemson, Ferrelli told Clemson linebackers coach Ben Boulware that Ole Miss had doubled its offer before appearing in the Clemson compliance office requesting to re-enter the transfer portal.

The players

Pete Golding

Ole Miss defensive coordinator who Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has publicly accused of tampering with a Clemson transfer player.

Dabo Swinney

Clemson head coach who has publicly accused Pete Golding and Ole Miss of tampering.

Lane Kiffin

Ole Miss head coach who the school is alleging has also engaged in tampering with players from other programs.

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What they’re saying

“Ole Miss' defense is, 'Well, look what we have on other schools. Look what we have on Lane Kiffin and LSU.' 'OK, cool. You want to come after us, your next stop better be Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Or your next stop should be [pick your] college town.'”

— Trey Wallace, OutKick reporter (That SEC Podcast)

“The NCAA has enough to be like, 'Pete, my man, you're going to have to be off the sidelines for a game or two.' Do I think that they'll do it? Let's see how tough the NCAA is in this. But they have enough evidence.”

— Trey Wallace, OutKick reporter (That SEC Podcast)

What’s next

The NCAA will likely continue its investigation into the tampering allegations involving Ole Miss and other programs, with potential penalties such as game suspensions for implicated coaches.

The takeaway

The tampering allegations between Ole Miss and rival programs highlight the growing problem of illegal recruiting practices in college football, as programs seek to gain an edge by poaching players from competitors. The outcome of these investigations could set important precedents for how the NCAA handles such cases going forward.