Ole Miss Running Back Kewan Lacy To Return To School For 2026 Season
In a move that felt less like a standard contract signing and more like a statement of intent, star Running Back Kewan Lacy officially put pen to paper to return to Ole Miss for the 2026 season. With former Head Coach Lane Kiffin bolting for LSU and taking Running Backs Coach Kevin Smith with him to Baton Rouge, the writing seemed to be on the wall.
The narrative wrote itself: The star back follows the coach who recruited him to a bitter rival. It’s the kind of heartbreak college football fans have almost become numb to in the transfer portal era. But Lacy flipped the script. Instead of heading south, he’s doubling down on the Rebels.
Why Keeping Lacy Was Mission Impossible
Context matters here. When a head coach leaves, the roster usually bleeds talent. When a position coach leaves, especially one with a tight bond like Smith had with his room, it usually triggers an exodus.
New Head Coach Pete Golding had a massive mountain to climb. The rumor mill was churning out reports that LSU was ready to roll out the red carpet, and likely a massive NIL package, to get Lacy in purple and gold. Golding retaining the nation’s third-leading rusher amidst that turmoil is the kind of recruiting win that solidifies a tenure before it even really begins.
It also speaks volumes about the culture in the locker room. Lacy isn’t just chasing a coach; he’s committed to the program. Alongside Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who is also returning pending a waiver, the Rebels are keeping the band together. That kind of continuity is an endangered species in modern college football.
Lacy is a Game-Wrecker
If you need a reminder of why this is such a massive deal, just look at the stat sheet or turn on the tape of the Sugar Bowl.
Lacy has been an absolute terror for defenses this year. We are talking about a guy who racked up 1,464 yards on the ground. But it’s the end zone production that really pops. He found paydirt 23 times this season. That is video game stuff. He broke the single-season school record and proved he can carry the load when it matters most.
Against Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals, when the lights were brightest, Lacy was a hammer. He churned out 98 yards and two scores against a defense that prides itself on not letting people run the ball. He runs with a mix of violence and vision that you just can’t teach. Losing that production to LSU wouldn’t have just hurt; it would have been catastrophic for the Ole Miss offense.
Focus Shifts To Miami and Beyond
With the contract drama now in the rearview mirror, the Rebels can get back to the actual football. And they need to, fast.
Ole Miss has a massive date with the Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl this Thursday. Miami’s defense has been stingy, allowing almost nothing in its playoff run so far. But they haven’t had to tackle Lacy yet. For Rebels fans, the 2026 season just went from “rebuild mode” to “reload mode.” But for right now? They can just enjoy the fact that No. 5 is staying in red and blue.
