Kewan Lacy’s Record-Breaking Surge Propels Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff—Inside the Rebel RB’s Meteoric Rise

Electric sophomore running back Kewan Lacy has become the heartbeat of Lane Kiffin’s No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels as they prepare for Saturday’s College Football Playoff semifinal in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 10 Miami. After transferring from Missouri last winter, the Lancaster, Texas, native erupted for 1,464 rushing yards, 23 touchdowns and 173 receiving yards on 28 catches, shattering expectations in his first SEC season. His 23 scores tie Tim Tebow and Tre Mason for the fifth-most rushing TDs ever recorded in a single SEC campaign, trailing only legends Derrick Henry (28) and Najee Harris (26). Lacy’s power-zone running style has been a perfect fit for Kiffin’s up-tempo offense. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry on a hefty 295 attempts, providing the workhorse production Ole Miss lacked after Quinshon Judkins transferred in 2024. In two CFP wins this postseason, Lacy has logged 185 yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of clutch fourth-quarter scores that buried Georgia in the quarterfinal. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back isn’t just a bruiser; he owns breakaway speed that produced six runs of 40+ yards and a career-long 73-yard burst against LSU. That home-run threat forces defenses to keep safeties in the box, opening vertical shots for quarterback Jaxson Dart and wideout Tre Harris. Momentum surrounding Lacy spiked again this week when multiple outlets reported he has signed an enhanced NIL package and plans to remain in Oxford for the 2026 season, shelving any transfer-portal speculation. The stability is a massive win for Kiffin, who already inked a top-10 recruiting class built around offensive firepower. Saturday’s matchup versus Miami will pit Lacy against a Hurricanes front surrendering just 3.2 yards per carry. Expect Kiffin to use misdirection and tempo to create angles, then unleash Lacy between the tackles. If he eclipses the 120-yard mark—a benchmark Ole Miss hit in nine of 14 wins—the Rebels are 9-0 this season. Beyond the CFP, Lacy’s meteoric rise has rocketed his 2027 NFL Draft stock. Scouts rave about his contact balance, and his 36 catches over two collegiate seasons hint at three-down versatility. Another marquee performance on the national stage could cement him as the early favorite to be the SEC’s next first-round running back selection. For now, Oxford is dreaming bigger: a first national championship since 1962. To get there, Ole Miss will ride the legs of Kewan Lacy—college football’s newest star and the latest Rebel making headlines in January.