Pete Golding reportedly decides on Ole Miss’s defensive play-calling plans for CFP
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Pete Golding’s first game as head coach at Ole Miss will be against Tulane in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The Rebels will be on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator once the season ends. For now, though, Golding will serve as the team’s defensive playcaller. That’s according to ESPN’s Alyssa Lang.
Ole Miss’s offense has been one of the best in the country. Its defense has held up its own end of the bargain, though. The Rebels are No. 20 in the country in passing defense, allowing 182.6 yards through the air per game. That’s good for third in the SEC.
Pete Golding has been with Ole Miss since 2023 as the program’s defensive coordinator. In 2024, the Rebels’ defense was terrific. It was second in the country in points allowed per game, second in rushing defense, and 14th in total defense. Of course, Golding has Playoff experience. As Nick Saban‘s defensive coordinator at Alabama, the Crimson Tide won a national championship in 2020.
In this Playoff run, though, we know that Golding will serve as his own defensive playcaller. We’ll see if that extends to 2026, his first full season as the Rebels’ head coach.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
