Sports writer Dale McKee gives his insight on Mississippi college football for 2026.
Ole Miss
Rival football coaches and the national media just can’t stop talking about the Ole Miss Rebels. From last fall until the present the Rebels keep making headlines.
The Rebels won a school record 13 games and came within one game of playing for the National Championship in 2025. Ole Miss has seen much success over the last six seasons, going 47-17. Their success has not gone unnoticed by the other SEC teams. “I think our players understand we are no longer the hunters. We are now the hunted,” said Rebels head coach Pete Golding.
Ole Miss has two potential Heisman candidates returning in quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. Golding will also have an NFL first rounder in defensive lineman William Echoles returning.
Depth at quarterback is the strongest since the Johnny Vaught era. Chambliss, Deuce Knight (George County), AJ Maddox (Oak Grove), and Walker Howard make up the strongest quarterback foursome in college football. “I think quarterback more than any other position is that one position you hope that does not make more plays against you than they do for you,” Golding said.
Lacy returns, and the Rebels bring in three running back transfers to help take the load off Lacy.
The Rebels loaded up by adding five big time transfer receivers and will be counting on Deuce Alexander and Choctaw County’s Caleb Cunningham to play a big role. The offensive line returns Brycen Sanders, Delano Townsend, and Patrick Kutas.
Ole Miss had to rebuild the defensive secondary as they added seven players, led by Florida’s Sharif Denson. The linebackers will be led by the veteran Suntarine Perkins (Raleigh) who will be joined by a couple of experienced veterans. The defensive line has a Mississippi flavor led by Will Echoles (Houston), Kam Franklin (Lake Cormorant), Andrew Maddox (Oak Grove), and transfer Jehiem Oatis (Columbia).
The Rebels also have the best kicking game in the country.
“We need to make good decisions so that we don’t lose games,” Golding said.
The cupboard is not bare as far as talent in Oxford, so a repeat to the College Football Playoffs is not out of the question.
Mississippi State
This is a crucial year for the Mississippi State Bulldogs who are standing at the crossroads in the SEC. Last season, the Bulldogs made some headway with five wins after winning only two games in Jeff Lebby’s first season in Starkville.
One reason for hope in Starkville this fall is the Bulldogs will enter the season with the quarterback position in good hands. Sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor (Noxubee County) returns to lead the offense. Taylor started in two of the 11 games in 2025 as he threw five touchdowns and rushed for eight more.
Lebby really likes where Taylor is in his growth and development. “He is a very gifted athlete. Kamario is getting better and works hard daily to improve his skills,” Lebby said.
Running backs Fluff Bothwell and Xavier Gayten (Brookhaven) return, and with the addition of two high school signees in J.J. Hill (Tupelo) and Cooper Crosby (Gulfport), the Bulldogs’ ground attack should improve. “We have had flashes of being a very explosive offensive unit, but we must find a way to run the football successfully,” Lebby said. Anthony Evans III returns as one of the top receivers while Sanfrisco Magee (McComb) and Missouri transfer Marquis Johnson will be Taylor’s long ball threats.
The Bulldogs will depend on Jahkeem Shumpert Perkins (Shannon) to lead the offensive line. The Bulldogs added size as LSU transfer and Laurel native Tyler Miller (6-6, 335 pounds) joined six other transfers to form the biggest offensive line in college football. “I really feel good about that unit because they are more physical than the past teams,” Lebby said.
“We are excited to have Zac Arnett back. He is one of the top defensive minds in college football. I know he will elevate our defense. He will bring toughness and discipline to our defense,” Lebby said. Issac Smith (Fulton) returns at safety/linebacker, Kelly Jones (Clarksdale) is back at corner and linebackers Tyler Lockhart (Forest) and Zakari Tillman (Florence) also return. The Bulldogs’ priority was rebuilding the defense, and they brought in six transfers to fill those needs.
The Bulldogs’ SEC win total relies on players staying healthy with a brutal SEC schedule ahead.
Southern Miss
The University of Southern Mississippi head football coach Blake Anderson may enter the 2026 football season feeling like a contractor that builds houses. Anderson is in the process of going through the different stages of building a football program from scratch. Anderson will have to roll up his sleeves and go through the whole house building process from breaking ground to the final walk through.
“We’re 138 out of 138 football teams in terms of returning production. I have never been in a position of basically starting from scratch. We must figure it out — and quickly,” Anderson said at the start of spring football.
Anderson and his new staff worked double overtime during the spring. “We were having to evaluate players daily but also teach the guys,” Anderson, last year’s Golden Eagles offensive coordinator, said.
Anderson will have last year’s backup quarterbacks Landry Lyddy and John White (MRA) returning to go with Illinois transfer Ethan Hampton. The three will be competing to succeed last year’s starter Braylon Braxton. Robert Briggs will be asked to step up at running back while Davis Dalton (MRA) and A.J. Little (Noxubee) will be counted on at receiver along with transfer Grant Page. The line will feature Luke Rogers (Brandon), Larry Edwards (Humphrey Co.), Joe Rounds (Grenada), and transfers Jahmir Davis and Broderick Roman.
The defense will be led by linebackers Avery Sledge (MSU/Forrest County AHS) and freshman Caleb Triplett (D’Iberville). The line will feature freshman K.J. Washington (D’Iberville), along with transfers Jeffery Rush (Ole Miss/Pascagoula), Nasim Cario, and Kamero Cypien. Champ Lewis, Jyaire Brown, and Landon Sylvie will lead the secondary.
“We will have to prepare to play harder than our opponents. We have a talent deficit, so we will have to out work folks, be in better shape and not let that be an issue,” Anderson said.
Alcorn State
There is lots of excitement on the Reservation as Alcorn State enters the 2026 football campaign. The excitement extends from the Braves’ strong finish in 2025 as Alcorn won four of their final five games after starting 1-6.
Alcorn head coach Cedric Thomas enters his third year and feels with the experience returning on both sides of the ball, the Braves are in good shape. “We certainly didn’t get off to a good start last year. I had to make some changes on the offensive side of the ball. We moved to more of an up-tempo style, and that seemed to fit our personnel better. I really like the wide open and fast-paced offense, and our players do too. We feel like we are in a good place with last year’s quarterback Jaylon Tolbert, along with several offensive linemen returning,” Thomas said.
Tolbert passed for over 2,000 yards and threw for 16 touchdowns, and with Jaden Bryant, Cameran Rogers, and Abe Diallo back in the trenches, the offense should be improved. Mario Blakes (Shaw) is back at receiver while redshirt freshman running back Carl McDonald (Natchez) has the daunting job of trying to replace leading rushers Reggie Davis and Jacorian Sewell from last year’s team.
The strength of the defense should be the secondary and the line. Returning on defense are three special players in safety Tim Jasper and defensive linemen Eric Thomas (Columbus) and Kenneth Andrews (Clinton). “The defense was the story of our spring. They flew to the ball, and they were physical,” Thomas said.
After the season home opener against Miles College on Aug. 29, the Braves will play at Southern Miss on Sept. 5. “I am excited for our players to play at Southern Miss. The in-state atmosphere and competition, with the bands and fans, should be exciting. I would love to play Southern Miss, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State on rotating years. Our players would be seen by NFL teams because the pro scouts would be able to evaluate our players against good competition,” Thomas said.
“I really think this could be a special season if we get everything to gel accordingly. I really like our chances every Saturday.”
Jackson State
For the fourth time in five seasons, the Jackson State Tigers made it to the SWAC Championship game. That is the expectation of Jackson State every season, and last year’s bitter taste of losing to Prairie View A&M in the championship game still lingers on Lynch Street.
Quarterback JaCobian Morgan is gone, but that position is in solid hands. Sophomore Jared Lockhart, a 6-foot-5 gunslinger, was 5-0 filling in for Morgan last year. He was Co-SWAC Freshman of the Year as he threw for over 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. “He is a leader that works hard on and off the field,” JSU head football coach T.C. Taylor said.
Nate Blount (Brandon) had an excellent off season and will be one of the key returners in the backfield. The strong-arm Lockhart will have a talented group to throw to as Amarion Brown (Yazoo City) and Jabari Jones return as deep threats. The offensive line has been rebuilt led by the huge Quaveon Davis (Louisville), Melvin Collins, (Terry) and transfer Jaekwon Bouldin (Canton/MSU). “O-Line coach Manny Ramirez makes them nasty and physical. That’s the way we like them,” Taylor said.
The defensive secondary was a priority in the spring. Defensive back returners will be K.J. Chisholm, Kam Sallis (Pickens), and Mike Smith as they will team up with transfers Jalen Foster (ULM), Swipe Marshall (WKU), and Khamuri Rogers (Holmes County/MSU) to anchor the caboose of the defense. The linebacker position is the heart of the defense with Kam Evans (Crawford), Keith Bass, and Micah Gay (Tenn. St.) taking turns punishing the opposing offense. The defensive line has talent with Stanley Cook returning along with transfers Terrance Hibbler (Holmes Co./MSU), Keshawn Hudson (UCF), and Eastern Michigan transfer Duke Clayton.
“I am excited about the season. The players are a joy to be around and come to the facility ready to work,” Taylor said.
If another SWAC East title is in the cards, wins at Grambling and Alabama State are a must for the Tigers.
Mississippi Valley State
Some are born to only play the game of football while others are born to only coach. Terrell Buckley decided he wanted to do both.
After a 14-year NFL career, he began his college coaching journey as an assistant with stops at Florida State, Akron, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. Buckley has earned his head coaching stripes as he begins his second season as head coach of Mississippi Valley State University.
“I am from Mississippi, and I have always wanted to be a college head coach,” Buckley said.
Buckley knows that coaching is teaching, and he has first-hand experience learning from several of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. He played under one of the winningest college coaches in Bobby Bowden at Florida State. The Pascagoula native also learned when he played in the NFL for another winner in Bill Belichick.
Buckley is looking forward to his second year at Mississippi Valley. He has several talented players to lean on this upcoming season. The talented Josh Brown returns at quarterback while Norman Taylor, one of the best running backs in the SWAC, returns. Talented defensive backs Joey Davis and Jamari Stokes also return.
Buckley needs more players of this caliber to get Valley back to the Jerry Rice, Willie Totten, and Archie Cooley winning ways of the 1980s. “Mississippi has plenty of talented football players, and we will start and end our recruiting here,” Buckley said.
“Winning starts with attitude, accountability, and a high standard.”
Make no mistake, Buckley understands that both on the field and economically, he and Valley have challenges to overcome. “I love a good challenge, and I think I am ready for this,” Buckley said.
