Ole Miss Dominates Charlotte 41-9 to Extend Home Winning Streak
OXFORD, Miss. — The No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels won their first home game of the 2026 season Saturday night, defeating Charlotte 41-9 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The victory marked the Rebels’ 13th consecutive home win, the third-longest streak in the FBS.
Ole Miss scored more than 40 points for the second straight game to open the season. Running back Kewan Lacy led the offensive attack, rushing for two touchdowns. His first score, on the opening drive, was his 26th career rushing touchdown, tying him for fourth all-time at Ole Miss with Snoop Conner. His second gave him 27 career touchdowns and extended his streak to 11 games with a rushing score, the longest in school history since 1956. Lacy now ranks fourth in career all-purpose touchdowns.
Defensive coordinator Pete Golding praised the team’s effort, noting improvements in the first half and highlighting key plays by Kam Franklin and Jehiem Otis, who blocked a field goal. Golding also expressed disappointment with the third-quarter start, emphasizing the importance of finishing games strong after a late-game slip last week.
Nick Cull recorded his first interception for Ole Miss in the second quarter, returning it 38 yards. Cull described the play as man-to-man coverage where he saw the ball in the air and attempted to score. The Rebel defense also made several contributions, with Luke Ferrelli leading with six tackles and Jaylon Braxton adding two pass breakups. Several players made their college debuts, including Landon Barnes, Dante Core, and Cameron Reed.
Wide receiver Horatio Fields scored his first career touchdown in an Ole Miss uniform to start the fourth quarter. Fields said the offense came out fast and focused on establishing their identity. Deuce Alexander caught a career-high eight passes for 76 yards, while Caleb Cunningham added six receptions for 65 yards, both career bests.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss completed 23 of 26 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. He also extended his streak to 15 consecutive games with a passing score, one shy of the school record held by Eli Manning. Chambliss acknowledged areas for improvement, including execution and pocket presence, but was pleased with the overall performance.
Ole Miss will face LSU next Saturday in a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. Fans can stay updated with the latest team news through the official Ole Miss sports app and newsletter, The Sip, presented by Renasant Bank.
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