Take a bow, Kewan Lacy. The greatest rushing season in Ole Miss history belongs to you.
With a 2-yard run from Lacy in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal game against Miami, the Rebels’ starting running back tied the single-season rushing record. Lacy entered the game with 1,464 rushing yards, just 104 yards away from breaking the record (1,567 yards) set by Quinshon Judkins in 2022.
Lacy, a Mizzou transfer in the offseason, had been a bell cow for the Rebels this season. He finished with 103 yards and a touchdown on Thursday in the loss to Miami — his seventh 100-yard game of the season.
He got the scoring started for Ole Miss in the game, ripping off a 73-yard run for a touchdown on the opening play of the second quarter. That run briefly gave the Rebels a 7-3 lead.
Lacy then left the game with a hamstring injury. According to the ESPN broadcast, he went to the sideline after the long run and complained of tightness in his hamstring. He was seen on the stationary bike in between drives and was said to receive some treatment from the medical staff on the sideline.
He did not come back onto the field for the remainder of the first half, but was able to return in the second half. Had he not missed any time, Lacy might have taken the record for himself. He ended the game averaging 9.4 yards per carry.
But a share of the record is still a share of a school record, and Lacy will have the chance to take it for himself next season.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
