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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football vs. LSU: Practice Report
9/16/2026 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss football team is preparing for it's first conference game of the season as they welcome No.7 LSU this weekend.
Head coach Pete Golding met with reporters this week alongside running back Kewan Lacy, defensive tackle Will Echoles and wide receiver Deuce Alexander as the Rebels prepare to host LSU on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The latest chapter of the Magnolia Bowl will mark the rivalry's first top-10 matchup since 1962, adding even more significance to a weekend that will bring College GameDay to Oxford and officially open SEC play for the Rebels. This week's practice report is presented by Mississippi Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center.
Blocking Out the Noise
Golding acknowledged the unique circumstances surrounding this week's matchup but was quick to frame it the way he frames every game.
"There's so much on the line just from what the game means as far as conference play and being a top-10 matchup at home with College GameDay," he said. "But regardless who we play, if you don't prepare really well and practice really well and play your best game, you're probably not going to win." He compared the distractions of the week to high school homecoming, saying the Friday night outcome is what determines how fun the dance is.
Golding was direct in his assessment of where the secondary needs to improve after reviewing the Charlotte tape, noting that some of the same mistakes from week one showed up again in week two. "Making the same mistake again regardless who's in, that was the frustrating piece," he said. He added that consistency across the board in the back end remains the primary focus heading into the biggest home game of the young season.
On the offensive line, Golding said the first two weeks have given him confidence in the depth the Rebels have built up front, noting that multiple players have stepped up and created value for themselves with meaningful reps.
"[Patrick] Kutas does a really good job from a communication standpoint of helping those guys," he said. He singled out Connor Howes as a player who has continued to grow with every opportunity, adding that getting the unit playing its best football heading into conference play remains a priority this week.
Ready to Roll
Lacy said the moment of playing in a top-10 home matchup in front of a sold-out Vaught-Hemingway is something he has been looking forward to, but that his preparation has not changed. "I just try to focus on the main thing," he said. "God first and just being prepared for the moment."
Lacy spoke to the strength of the running back room around him, saying the new pieces added this offseason have given the offense a different dimension. "I feel like we're going to be way more explosive," he said. He added that his bond with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss continues to grow, pointing to Chambliss's development as a leader as one of the most important factors in the offense's growth heading into conference play.
Time to Show Out
Alexander said the locker room has been locked in all week, with veterans doing their part to make sure the focus stays on preparation rather than the surrounding storylines. "Block all the outside noise and just keep the main thing the main thing," he said. "Let the fans, the media, let them do the talking. As players, we just need to go out and play our game."
Alexander, who has taken on the No. 1 wide receiver role this season, said the expectations that come with that responsibility have only sharpened his focus. "It's on me now," he said. "Just believe in my work, believe in my preparation. Other guys are watching me, so I just got to go out there and do the right thing all the time and just be the best version of myself."
The Standard
Echoles said the defensive line is equally locked in and made clear what the standard is this week. "Everybody will be on the same page from the front end to the back end," he said. "We got one goal. If we go out there and if we are all on the same page and compete, it's going to be hard to beat us."
With College GameDay in Oxford and SEC play underway, the Rebels enter Saturday's showdown focused and ready to meet the moment.
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