Pete Golding has lucked out with the Ole Miss defense this season.

As the Rebels prepare to face Penn State in the Peach Bowl this weekend, the majority of Golding’s defense didn’t opt out of the bowl or didn’t sustain major injuries.

Golding said at his Peach Bowl press conference on Wednesday that the reason for his a good percentage of defenders staying put for the bowl game is the influence that “starts up top.”

“I think it’s the culture which (Lane) Kiffin created,” Golding said. “We have a really good group of kids that love football, and a big part of it how much do you love football.”

Golding noted that players use football for a number of reasons, whether it is to further their future or assist in the success of the program.

“Some guys play football for what football can do for them, then there’s other guys who play football because they love football,” Golding said. “I think the only way you get better at football is to play football. I think they’ve bought into these 15 extra practices.”

Golding said Ole Miss has a lot of players who either love football or love each other based on the drive of competition.

“They can increase their value by playing in another game and playing well, whether if that’s as a potential (NFL) draft pick or as a young player having an impact in a bowl game,” Golding said.

An important part of the 2023 season for Ole Miss’s players is having an opportunity to win 11 games for the first time in the program’s history.

“It speaks volumes to their character and competitiveness,” Golding said.

No. 11 Ole Miss will face No. 10 Penn State in the Peach Bowl this Saturday at noon on ESPN.