Ole Miss enters the 2026 season with one of the deepest and most talented cornerback groups in the SEC, giving the Rebels a secondary capable of matching up with some of the conference’s top passing attacks . In 2025, the Rebels allowed the fifth-most passing yards in the SEC , giving up 2,984 yards through the air. Ole Miss’ fast-paced offense also played a role in that number, often putting the defense back on the field quickly and increasing overall possessions during games. With Pete Golding transitioning from defensive coordinator to head coach, Patrick Toney was hired in January 2026 to help address some of the Rebels’ defensive issues. Golding and Toney previously worked together under Ron Roberts at Southeastern Louisiana from 2012-13 before reuniting when Golding served as UTSA’s defensive coordinator during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.…