Pete Golding opened Auburn week by owning the end of the Texas loss, and he brought a number with him. Ole Miss had tied the game at 24. Then Texas ran for 121 of its rushing yards in the fourth quarter, from the 10:30 mark on, and won 34-27.
At his Monday press conference, Golding said two things about his defense that pull against each other, and he meant both. He loves this group. And it has not been good enough often enough.
I think it’s been very inconsistent. You know, I think it’s been hit or miss, kind of like we’ve talked about. There’s been drives, been halves, been games that we played extremely well, and it’s what I thought it would be. And then there’s been a lot of times of disappointment.
Pete Golding
“It’s how we missed the tackle”
Golding said the halftime message in Austin, with Ole Miss down 24-3, was a narrow one.
The challenge at halftime was make this a one-possession game going into the 4th quarter. That’s all. That’s all I want you to do.
Pete Golding
Ole Miss did that, and Golding credited the effort: “We were violent on the ball carrier.” Then he walked through what happened next.
There’s 121 of their rushing yards is in the 4th quarter from the 10 and a half minute mark on it. It’s 2 plays, right, with vice tackles in the hole. And so I’m not mad that we missed the tackle. They’re not perfect. They’re going to miss tackles. It’s how we missed the tackle.
Pete Golding
His complaint was technique, not effort: the leverage side, the thing the defense drills every week. He said he told the players exactly that on Sunday night.
And so it was a come to Jesus last night, man. Like, you show me so many times, I got to believe you, right?
Pete Golding
He did not leave the coaches out of it. “So we’ve got to do a better job of making sure we’re putting the right guys in those situations at critical moments,” Golding said, and earlier: “It’s all of our job to do a better job moving forward.”
So it’s frustrating, to be honest with you, because I love the group and they’re really talented. But you’re not going to beat elite teams on a consistent basis by doing that when it matters.
Pete Golding
74 snaps, and an IV for Will Echoles
Part of the late collapse, Golding said, was a tired front. Defensive tackle Will Echoles left the game for an IV to treat dehydration and later returned. By the 6:30 mark of the fourth quarter, Golding said, the defense had been on the field for 74 snaps, and the run fits at the second level looked different without Echoles.
We got to do a little better job from a consistent rotation standpoint up front. To make sure we’re not losing our better players late in games.
Pete Golding
“Our backs are against the wall now”
Asked whether every week now carries a playoff mentality, Golding said Ole Miss has played that way all season. He also said his players understand where a second loss leaves them.
I’m not naive enough to, you know, to not think that they realize, all right, our backs are against the wall now, you know.
Pete Golding
His message for the week: control what you can control, and don’t press.
Lacy, Chambliss and the rest of the injury news
Golding confirmed Kewan Lacy dislocated his shoulder at Texas. It is the same shoulder Lacy hurt against LSU, but Golding said it is a different injury, and he ruled the running back out for Saturday.
I know normally people wouldn’t tell you that, but there’s no chance that we’re going to try that at all this week.
Pete Golding
Makhi Frazier “has come in and played well,” Golding said, and Shekai Mills-Knight “is going to have a real opportunity this week.” He also said Trinidad Chambliss, who ran for seven yards at Texas, will run more, recalling a late moment in Austin against man coverage with a spy: “Hey, man, you can outrun them.”
I think you’ll see a little more of that moving forward.
Pete Golding, on Trinidad Chambliss running
Left tackle Terez Davis, a game-time decision at Texas, is expected back this week. Defensive back Edwin Joseph is not: “Don’t feel great about it this week, to be honest with you,” Golding said.
The key against Auburn
Golding said Auburn’s offense runs through quarterback Byrum Brown, who he said leads the SEC in quarterback run game. Brown has 480 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns this season, per Ole Miss Athletics. Auburn spreads its receivers wide and plays with tempo, so loading the box leaves one-on-ones outside.
But the key to the drill to me is you got to eliminate the quarterback run game. You got to create some negative yardage plays early to get them to obvious passing downs.
Pete Golding
Auburn (4-3) visits No. 12 Ole Miss (5-2, 3-2 SEC) on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network. The Rebels have won 15 straight at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Photo: Pete Golding against Missouri, October 17, 2026, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images.
From Pete Golding’s Auburn-week press conference, Monday, October 26, 2026. Locked On Ole Miss broke down the presser on today’s LOOM Flagship.
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