Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Tampa. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on Google So much was going on at Ole Miss in 2025.
The Rebels entered the campaign as a trendy pick to chase a College Football Playoff (CFP) spot, but were left for dead when starting quarterback Austin Simmons went down with an injury after just two games.
Instead of falling apart, Ole Miss rallied around transfer QB Trinidad Chambliss, went 11-1 and qualified for the tournament.
Oh, and Lane Kiffin abandoned the program right before the Playoff to take the LSU gig.
Kiffin’s replacement, Pete Golding, guided the team to wins over Tulane and Georgia in the CFP and nearly took down Miami in the semifinals.
Despite all the chaos, Ole Miss was one play short of getting a crack at the national championship.
Things should be quieter in Oxford in 2026, as Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy try to guide the Rebels back to the dance.
Oddsmakers at bet365 Sportsbook think it’s more likely than not that they fall short of that goal, as they’re +170 to make the Playoff and -220 to miss.
Chambliss, meanwhile, is one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Only CJ Carr and Arch Manning have shorter odds than the Ole Miss signal-caller, who is at 11/1 along with Darian Mensah, Dante Moore and Julian Sayin. Not bad for a player who was a relative unknown at this time last year.
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Pete Golding speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Tampa. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images If the sixth-year senior can make good on those projections, there’s no reason why Ole Miss won’t be among the elite teams in the SEC, especially since Lacy projects to be a game-winner out of the backfield.
The argument against Ole Miss is the same as it is for plenty of teams in the SEC: their schedule is relentless. Not only do the Rebels open with a tricky contest against Louisville, but they’ll welcome Kiffin and the Bayou Bengals to Oxford in Week 3 as part of a gauntlet that sees them take on Florida, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Texas, Auburn, Georgia and Oklahoma.
Catch up on The Post’s college football betting predictions and previews for the 2026 season
Getting out of that stretch relatively unscathed would be a massive achievement, and would likely put the Rebels in the running for the SEC title.
If you think that Ole Miss is good enough to climb that ladder, the 10/1 odds on the Rebels to win the SEC championship may look appealing, as would the similar price on Chambliss winning the Heisman, but I’d suggest going in a different direction.
For the Rebels to contend in the SEC, against this schedule, Chambliss will need to take another step forward after a massive leap in 2025.
If he does that, he will put himself in contention not just for the Heisman, but to be the first overall pick in 2026.
He’s a massive long shot (1 percent) at Kalshi to do it, and I think that’s a pretty tempting bet on a player with his profile.
The Play: Trinidad Chambliss to be No. 1 overall pick (1 percent, Kalshi)
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
