The Ole Miss football team looks to return to the College Football Playoff this season, under head coach Pete Golding. Golding is now head coach after previously working as defensive coordinator under Lane Kiffin. The Ole Miss coach is affirming his commitment to the Rebels.
“This is the first place I've ever been, first job that I've ever had that knew I was where I was supposed to be,” Golding said on Saturday, per SEC Network.
Ole Miss plays Georgia in a SEC showdown on Saturday night. The winner of this game will have a strong chance at making this year's College Football Playoff.
Ole Miss would love a win on Saturday. This season, the Rebels are 6-2 overall. The team is 4-2 in the SEC, and another loss could end their chances of reaching the CFP.
Ole Miss football hopes for a strong performance against Georgia
The Rebels reached the CFP in 2025 under former head coach Kiffin, before he left for LSU. Golding then took over. A win over Georgia Saturday doesn't guarantee the team will return to the playoff, but it would certainly be helpful to the team's resumé.
This season, the Ole Miss defense has been less than sharp at times.
“The Rebels are 13th among 16 SEC teams in rushing defense, allowing 148.9 rushing yards per game. In Ole Miss' eight games so far this season, the team has given up more than 150 rushing yards four times, including a 207-yard rushing performance by Texas and 302 rushing yards from Florida,” Sports Illustrated reported.
The Rebels have losses this season to Florida and Texas. The team has SEC conference games remaining with Oklahoma and Mississippi State, as well as a non conference clash with Wofford.
Ole Miss and Georgia play Saturday at 7:30 ET. Georgia enters the game with a 7-1 record. The Bulldogs are also ranked no. 2 in the country.