Three Keys to the Game: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt – The Rebel Walk

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Posted by Billy Kuhl | Oct 8, 2026 | Football, Ole Miss
OXFORD, Miss. — After a rough loss against Florida, followed by an open week spent addressing what went wrong, the Ole Miss Rebels return to the gridiron Saturday as they hit the road to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores.
The Rebels (3-1, 1-1 SEC) are heading to Nashville for the second time this year, but this time it is a true road test following the neutral-site season opener against Louisville. The Commodores (3-2, 0-2 SEC) have dropped their first two conference games to Auburn and Georgia, both on the road. They also narrowly escaped against NC State in Week 3, recovering a fumble in the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown with one second remaining.
Both teams enter the matchup with notable players whose availability bears watching. According to Rebels head coach Pete Golding, running back Kewan Lacy is expected to be ready Saturday, although he was listed as questionable on Wednesday’s initial availability report. Vanderbilt true freshman quarterback Jared Curtis was listed as probable.
Lacy has been a key piece of the Ole Miss offense, but a lingering shoulder injury has interrupted his season, most recently keeping him out against Florida. Curtis aggravated his knee against Auburn two weeks ago and missed Vanderbilt’s last game in Athens. Blaze Berlowitz has started for the Commodores in his absence, giving Ole Miss two different quarterbacks to prepare for this week.
With both teams coming off losses, Saturday sets the stage for two hungry programs looking to get back on track.
Ole Miss has struggled to establish an early rhythm in games this season, with the LSU matchup providing its strongest first-half performance. Even in that game, the Rebels’ opening possession was a three-and-out that included a penalty and a backward pass fumbled for a loss. They recovered from that start to take a 24-7 lead into halftime, showing what the offense can accomplish when it finds its footing.
Part of the struggle to start quickly has come from conservative play calling. Ole Miss ran the ball on its first four plays against Florida, resulting in a turnover on downs that gave the Gators possession at the Rebels’ 31-yard line. Although the Ole Miss defense did not allow a yard on the ensuing drive, Florida still capitalized with a field goal because of the favorable field position.
Coming off the loss and an open week, Ole Miss needs to get off to a strong start and sustain its performance through all four quarters. One way to do that is by letting Trinidad Chambliss settle in earlier and giving him more opportunities to establish the offense’s rhythm.
Chambliss has put together a season worthy of Heisman consideration, throwing for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns while adding four rushing scores through four games. He has completed 70.8 percent of his passes, giving the Rebels an efficient and versatile quarterback to build around. Getting him involved early through the air and with his legs could help Ole Miss avoid another opening stretch spent trying to recover momentum.
Ole Miss has struggled with tackling this season, and Golding was direct about the issue during his Monday press conference. He pointed to 62 missed tackles through four games and 482 yards allowed after contact, numbers that help explain why opposing offenses have been able to extend plays and drives.
Those missed tackles were particularly glaring against Louisville in the season opener and against Florida’s running back duo of Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark. Louisville totaled 469 yards of offense, while Florida rushed for 302 yards on 53 carries. More than 200 of the 268 rushing yards produced by Baugh and Clark came after contact in the Gators’ 52-28 win.
The Rebels have allowed an average of 194.8 rushing yards per game through four contests. Improving that number starts with getting defenders into position and finishing when they arrive. Against a Vanderbilt team Golding described as physical and capable of presenting different offensive looks, Ole Miss cannot afford to keep giving opponents extra yards after the initial contact.
Following those performances, Golding explained how the team is working to turn the page. But moving forward does not mean overlooking what went wrong, and he made it clear that starting spots for Saturday’s contest will not be finalized until Friday.
“This thing ain’t set. I told them this thing ain’t gonna be set till Friday. You got to come work your a** off every day and prove to us consistency and execution, which we’ve not been able to do on that side of the ball consistently for four quarters in any game,” Golding said.
That demand for consistency has carried onto the practice field, where the Rebels have stayed in full pads and worked to establish a more physical mentality. During Wednesday’s SEC Football Coaches Teleconference, Golding said the team responded well to an additional live practice Sunday after returning from the open week. The purpose was to put the corrections they had worked on back on tape, with the understanding that practice is only the beginning.
“You’re going to fight like you train. You’ve got to train like you fight,” Golding said.
However, Golding also acknowledged that he can stand in front of the media and explain the problems and solutions all week. The response will ultimately be measured by what the Rebels do Saturday.
“It doesn’t matter what I say, it matters what product is on the field at 2:30 on Saturday,” Golding said.
He is exactly right. Ole Miss needs to come out with physicality, play fast and play fearlessly. Golding challenged the team’s “manhood” at halftime against Florida, and Nashville will provide the next opportunity to see how fully the Rebels have answered that challenge. Playing angry has to translate into taking better angles, finishing tackles and executing assignments when the game gets difficult.
If the Rebels want to give their fans and coaches the response they are looking for after the loss to the Gators, they need to prove it early and sustain it. As important as it is for the offense to get off to a fast start, it may be even more important for the defense to build stops early and keep stacking them throughout the afternoon.
The Rebels’ defense has shown flashes, putting together strong halves and effective series. However, it has yet to sustain that level of play for a full 60 minutes. Through four games, Ole Miss opponents have scored 30 first-half points compared with 93 after halftime. More than three-quarters of the points scored against the Rebels have come in the second half, a telling illustration of why finishing has become such an emphasis.
Linebacker Tah’j Butler echoed that concern during Vanderbilt preparation, saying the defense is focused on maintaining its effort after halftime.
“We’re trying to start strong and finish strong,” Butler said. “That’s been our problem for this whole year.”
The Rebels need to continue their strong first-half defense and finally put together a complete performance, fueled by the frustration of their earlier outings. The anger can provide the spark, but discipline and execution have to carry it through all four quarters. Saturday is their opportunity to show that the work during the open week produced a response that lasts.
Ole Miss and Vanderbilt kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT at FirstBank Stadium on Saturday, October 10. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Billy Kuhl joins The Rebel Walk as a sophomore at Ole Miss majoring in Journalism with a Sports Media concentration. He is from Jefferson Township, New Jersey and graduated from Jefferson Township High School where he played varsity baseball, and soccer, and swam competitively in his summers. You can contact him at [email protected] or DM him on X @Billykuhll or instagram @Billykuhll_
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Billy Kuhl joins The Rebel Walk as a sophomore at Ole Miss majoring in Journalism with a Sports Media concentration. He is from Jefferson Township, New Jersey and graduated from Jefferson Township High School where he played varsity baseball, and soccer, and swam competitively in his summers. You can contact him at [email protected] or DM him on X @Billykuhll or instagram @Billykuhll_
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